1. The Swedish System of Official Statistics
Soft coordination
Broad-based cooperation
and
A strong infrastructure

2. Contents Background The steering of official statistics
The Council’s working methods
Factors of success
Outcome and conclusions

3. Background Statistics reform in 1994
Parts of the responsibility for official statistics were transferred from Statistics Sweden to 24 other authorities
Government evaluation in 1998
“Coordination and overall view of the statistical system had worsened"
Recommendation that a council be established for official statistics in Sweden

4. What is included in the system?
Statistics and the publishing of statistics
Microdata
Production systems
Laws and other regulations
Common tools and methods
Authorities responsible for official statistics
The Council for Official Statistics
Statistics Sweden as responsible for the coordination of official statistics

5. The Official Statistics Act
Official statistics shall
be available for public information, investigative activities and research
be objective and made available to the public
be accompanied by the phrase ”Official Statistics of Sweden” or a special symbol.

6. The Council for Official Statistics
is an advisory body and shall deal with matters of principle concerning the availability, quality and usefulness of the official statistics as well as facilitating the response process for data providers
shall produce an annual report on the official statistics which is published on Statistics Sweden’s website
compile an annual publishing plan
maintain a register of the statistical authorities and their products
shall work to improve cooperation between the statistical authorities

7. The Council for Official Statistics
The Director General of Statistics Sweden chairs the Council
The members of the Council are Director-generals appointed by the Director General of Statistics Sweden after consultation with the authorities responsible for official statistics
The members are appointed for three years
Two meetings are held every year

8. The sphere of activities
The Council has appointed work groups for
Decisions on contents and scope of official statistics
Issues on methods and quality
Electronic publishing
Provision of data from enterprises and municipalities
Giving access to data
The costs of official statistics
Regional official statistics

9. The sphere of activities
The Council’s secretariat
Supports the Council and work groups
Supports authorities responsible for official statistics
Prepares an annual report on official statistics
Prepares an annual publishing plan
Maintains a register of the statistical authorities and their products in the ”Product Database”
Encourages cooperation between statistical authorities and the development and management of a statistical network

10. Soft coordination and broad- based cooperation
Work groups
Seminars
Courses
The annual conference
Study visits

11. Factors of success
Strong support by the top management at Statistics Sweden
The top management at other authorities responsible for official statistics has become aware of the matter of official statistics
Increased exchange of experience among the authorities
The secretariat has close cooperation with the methodological and dissemination departments at Statistics Sweden
Close cooperation with representatives for the respondents
A strong infrastructure
The follow-up of official statistics

12. Outcome A joint view on official statistics among the authorities
Those working with statistics at different authorities get more support in their work
It is clear what is included in official statistics and how to carry out changes
Other authorities have a ”neutral” channel to Statistics Sweden
Increased awareness about availability, quality, response burden and the importance of disaggregating statistics by sex
The overall view and the availability of the statistics has improved

13. Conclusions
Openness, keeness and involvement result in a fruitful cooperation
In the long run cooperation is more powerful than controlling

14. If Questions……….. Contact: ROSsekretariatet @scb.se
See also the AnnualReport on Official Statistics of Sweden at the website of Statistics Sweden