1. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia Challenges in Measuring Poverty in SerbiaChallenges in Measuring Poverty in Serbia How to respond to the requirements of the users? Tijana Čomić April 2015

2. www.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rswww.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rs SORS organizationSORS organization BG RO Central Office – Belgrade + 14 Regional Offices In total 462 employees

3. www.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rswww.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rs Overview of 2015 SurveysOverview of 2015 Surveys Periodic No. of Surveys Monthly49 Quarterly37 Annual167 Multiannual8 On going and ad hoc26 Total287

4. www.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rswww.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rs In the Conclusions for the Chapter 18: Statistics of the 2014 Progress Report for Serbia it is stated: „Good progress was made in the area of statistics. The release of the results of the population and agriculture censuses continued. Sectorial statistics have been further developed. Work on the preparation of national accounts has continued. The administrative capacity of the Statistical Office needs to be further strengthened. The issue of regional statistical classification should be solved. Overall, Serbia is advanced in the area of statistics.“

5. www.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rswww.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rs Household SurveysHousehold Surveys Household Budget Survey (HBS) - Continuous Labor Force Survey (LFS) - Continuous Usage of ICT - Annual Survey on income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) - Annual

6. www.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rswww.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rs Measuring of povertyMeasuring of poverty WORLD... The main poverty line used in the OECD and the European Union is a relative poverty measure based on "economic distance", a level of income usually set at 60% of the median household income The United States, in contrast, uses an absolute poverty measure. The US poverty line was created in 1963–64 and was based on the dollar costs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "economy food plan" multiplied by a factor of three. The multiplier was based on research showing that food costs then accounted for about one-third of money income. This one-time calculation has since been annually updated for inflation.... and in Serbia Since 2013 – EU-SILC – introduced as an important step in EU integrations Before – HBS as the only source of consumption data. However, HBS methodology is not created for poverty measurements folowing the relative concept of measuring poverty. Upon a time, state statiscs used to calculate (estimate) poverty line, poverty rate, Gini indicator etc. in a maner of apsolute poverty. 2002, 2003 and 2007 - LSMS – conducted using WB methodology – relevant for poverty measuring. However, not in the System of the Official Statistics.

7. www.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rswww.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rs EU-SILC in SerbiaEU-SILC in Serbia Fully implemented using the EU methodology, regulations and recommendations Variables and indicators collected and calculated according to Doc065 and Agilis’ Working paper with the description of the ’Income and living conditions dataset’ Main objection – exclusion of own consumption in HH income Data are collected but not included Own consumption not relevant for EU countries but might be for Serbia. Lack of standard methodology for collection of data on own consumption for all countries In Serbia: callculated as difference between the market price of produced goods and production costs, collected as a evaluation of households Data on own consumption available for further analysis

8. www.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rswww.stat.gov.rs / stat@stat.gov.rs Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention Any questions now? For further questions: silc@stat.gov.rssilc@stat.gov.rs or 011 2412 922 ext. 289