1. Session 5 Rebasing GDP: Planning Michael Smedes UNSD
Regional Seminar on GDP Rebasing November 2019 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Session 5
Rebasing GDP: Planning
Michael Smedes
UNSD

2. What this session will cover
Planning:
Scope of the exercise
Institutional Settings
Resources and Technology
Standards and Classifications

3. Scope of Exercise
There are three major methodological pillars, which are used to enhance the national accounts compilation framework and are, therefore, part of rebasing exercise. They refer to
(a) adoption of 2008 System of National Accounts (the 2008 SNA version),
(b) adoption of latest international classifications, and
(c) use of much accurate and recent source data.
These would allow to provide a more comprehensive picture of the economic development. Based on this framework, the first stage of the rebasing activity entails the definition of the aims and objectives.

4. Institutional Arrangements
The responsibility for producing economic statistics should be seen not as the sole responsibility of the national accounts department, but as a collective responsibility of the statistical system of the country, which includes the statistical institute, survey agencies, administrative departments, etc Therefore, as part of the rebasing exercise, it might be necessary to establish a coordination committee with data supplying agencies and key for smooth for carrying out the rebasing exercise. The committee can meet frequently during the rebasing process and ensure timely availability of required data and, where necessary, with additional data collection efforts. Formation of such a committee also ensures the involvement of the entire statistical system and user community in the rebasing process, besides helping them to understand SNA, the reasons for revisions (that may arise due to rebasing) and how the source data are used in national accounts compilation

5. Institutional Arrangements
Data Access: need to have in place agreements with the data owners that enable access for the purposes of compiling and rebasing National Accounts
At a minimum this should include:
Balance of Payments and Customs data
Official surveys run by other Ministries
Government budget/finance data
Taxation and other administration data

6. Design dimensions of the Accounts
Identification of industry groups for compilation and dissemination of production GDP
Identification of expenditure aggregates for compilation and dissemination of expenditure GDP
GDP exhaustiveness of production GDP
Informal sector
Illegal activities
Underground activities
Production for own final use
Work in progress for crops and livestock

7. Classifications Institutional units:
Financial corporations, Non-financial corporations, General government, Households and Non-profit institutions serving households
Industries:
International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC)
Output:
Central Product classification (CPC)

8. Classifications Final Consumption:
Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG)
Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP)
Classification of the Purposes of Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (COPNI)
Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF):
by type of asset: (i) Dwellings; (ii) Other buildings and structures; (iii) Machinery and equipment; (iv) Weapons systems; (v) Cultivated biological resources; (vi) Costs of ownership transfer on non-produced assets; and (vii) Intellectual property products
Trade:
Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) and the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS)

9. Resources – Staff
Need to dedicate resources to the rebasing activities, this includes the technical elements as well as the non-technical elements of the activity (stakeholder engagements, consultation, communication etc)
Desirable to plan this as an ongoing activity rather than a one-off or irregular activity. This helps build and maintain skills and makes it apparent to management that the activity requires ongoing funding
Need to consider resources available when determining scope and time-frame of the rebasing activity

10. Resources - Training
Many manuals and other documents available, full list of publications can be seen at
Specific UNECA operational guide %20for%20GDP%20Rebasing/GB%20on%20GDP%20Rebasing_ pdf
Training programs: UNECA, IMF
Country level support: UNECA, IMF, NSOs

11. Resources - Systems Generalised tools Excel, SAS, R etc
National Accounts tools
Eratas
Nadabas
IMF compilation tools
Hendy Optimiser

12. Standards 2008 System of National Accounts
Balance of Payments Manual
Government Finance Statistics
Aim is to be as complete and as exhaustive as possible
However not every dimensions is relevant to every country
Need to study and consider what is material for your circumstances