1. EUROSTAT between demand and supply
By Berthold Feldmann
25/02/2001

2. We all know the seven quality features:
Clarity
Relevance
Coherence
Completeness
Accuracy
Timeliness
Comparability
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

3. We should check these against the Urban Audit results
Are the total quality criteria fulfilled?
Where is improvement necessary?
Are the user needs met?
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

4. Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up
Who are the Users?
Client Number 1 of Eurostat is the Commission
Then: policy makers at European, national and local (city) level
For benchmarking (best practice)
Environmental issues (sustainability)
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

5. Who are the data suppliers?
Normally: national statistical offices
for urban statistics: a more complex picture
the cities
local data networks
regional statistical offices
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

6. Back to the 7 quality features
Relevance
Accuracy
Timeliness
Clarity
Comparability
Coherence
Completeness
Let’s check them for the Urban Audit statistics
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

7. Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up
RELEVANCE
Can the Commission and other policy makers make use of the information of the Urban Audit?
Do they want other information?
Only they can tell…..
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

8. Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up
ACCURACY
The data collected in the pilot study has been checked several times, but certainly still contains errors
Accuracy is also a function of the data collection organisation!
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

9. Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up
TIMELINESS
So far only a one-off data collection, covering 3 years (1981, 1991, 1996)
Data freshness needs certainly to be improved
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

10. Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up
CLARITY
What do the statistics of the Urban Audit, as they are published on paper or on the web, mean?
Website meets a high standard of clarity and accessibility
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

11. Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up
COMPARABILITY
Since the data collection of the pilot study was not organised by statisticians, comparability (of the same variable) between cities is far from satisfactory
Comparability over time is a challenge (not easy to achieve)
Also satisfactory comparability of the spatial definition of cities is not easy
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

12. Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up
COHERENCE
Definitions and methodologies of the Urban Audit statistics differ greatly between countries
Improvements are mandatory
Coherence to other statistics is difficult to achieve (NUTS breakdown)
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

13. Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up
COMPLETENESS
Does the user get a complete picture of the latest evolution in European cities?
Difficult to achieve
Cost - Benefit analysis necessary
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

14. What is the result of the analysis?
Relevance
Accuracy
Timeliness
Clarity
Comparability
Coherence
Completeness
unknown
needs improvement
acceptable
good
needs strong improvement
Helsinki 2001: Urban Audit follow-up

15. Thanks for listening !
Any Questions ?