1. © 2008 by ESCAP 11 The proposed core set of economic statistics for Asia and the Pacific Artur Andrysiak Statistics Development and Analysis Section ESCAP E-mail: andrysiak@un.org 1

2. © 2008 by ESCAP 2 Overview Why –Background –Decision of the Committee on Statistics Who –TAG What –Core set of economic statistics and Regional Programme –How it compares with other sets of statistics When –Design process –Consultation process Where –Where from here?

3. © 2008 by ESCAP 33 Background The economic statistics have not received a lot of attention in the Asia-Pacific region, the main focus has been on the MDGs Many developing countries in the region lack the capacity to produce and disseminate basic financial and economic data required for compiling of a minimum set of national accounts and short-term economic indicators Most developing Asia-Pacific countries have still not been able to fully implement 1993 SNA

4. © 2008 by ESCAP 4 Milestone levels achieved by subregion

5. © 2008 by ESCAP 5 Status of SNA implementation in Asia and the Pacific

6. © 2008 by ESCAP 6 Availability of selected economic statistics

7. © 2008 by ESCAP 7 Availability of censuses and surveys

8. © 2008 by ESCAP 8 Availability of Business Registers by subregion and income category

9. © 2008 by ESCAP 9 Committee on Statistic, 2009 At 1 st session, in February 2009 Adopted a coordinating governance structure to guide the development, implementation and monitoring of an action plan (Regional Programme) for the development of economic statistics in the Asian and Pacific region Established a technical advisory group to provide guidance to the Bureau and the ESCAP secretariat on the development and periodic revision of a regional programme for the development of economic statistics

10. © 2008 by ESCAP ESCAP Technical Advisory Group on the Development of Economic Statistics (TAG) Person NominatedCountry/International organization Mr Michael SmedesAustralia Mr G.M. BoopathyIndia Ms Lazzat BulebayevaKazakhstan Mr Slamet SutomoIndonesia Ms Batjargal BadamsetsegMongolia Mr Jeff Cope (Co-chair)New Zealand Ms Chellam PalanyandyADB Mr John Frederick de GuiaASEAN Secretariat Ms Bayan AdilbekovaECO Secretariat Mr Pieter Everaers, Mr James Whitworth as alternateEurostat Mr Jairo CastanoFAO Mr Manik Shrestha, Mr Kimberly Zieschang (Co-chair)IMF Mr Alick NyasuluSPC ESCAP Statistics Division staff providing secretariat functions to the TAG: Mr Jan Smit, Ms Margarita Guerrero, Mr Artur Andrysiak

11. © 2008 by ESCAP Main objectives of the TAG Provide guidance to its Bureau and the ESCAP secretariat on methodological issues related to the development and periodic revision of a regional programme (action plan) for the development of economic statistics. Formulate a minimum Core Set of Economic Statistics that each member and associate member in the Asian and Pacific region would be in a position to produce, taking into account the varying country needs and work on the development of economic statistics undertaken by specialized bodies and related organizations in the region.

12. © 2008 by ESCAP 12 Aim of the Regional Programme The primary aim of the programme is to develop the capacity of ESCAP Members and Associate Members to produce a core set of economic statistics by 2020 of appropriate quality required for short and long term economic analyses and decision making by both government and non- government agencies / organisations.

13. © 2008 by ESCAP 13 Focus of the Programme

14. © 2008 by ESCAP 14 Relationship of the Core Set to the Regional Programme Purpose of the programme is to develop the capacity to produce a range of economic statistics, ie remove the constraints preventing their production. The core set fulfils two roles: –Determines the scope of the programme. –Provides guidance on the minimum set of economic statistics to be produced.

15. © 2008 by ESCAP Core Set The Core Set of Economic Statistics sets a clear and achievable target for the region by identifying the minimum set of economic statistics that all countries in Asia and the Pacific should have the capacity to produce by 2020 after taking into account their varying needs.

16. © 2008 by ESCAP Formulation process Expert Group Meeting (17-18 September 2009) Workshop to Develop a Regional Programme (9-11 December 2009 ) Meetings of the TAG (back-to-back with the above meetings) ISWGNA (February 2010) Intensive email and phone communication between the TAG members

17. © 2008 by ESCAP 17 Domains of economic statistics included in the core set –Prices and costs –Demand and output –Income and wealth –Money and banking –Government –Labour market –Natural resources and the environment –Within each of the above domains, the Core Set consists of key statistics, each of which is described by its frequency and relevant international standard and/or guideline

18. © 2008 by ESCAP 18 Core Set of Economic Statistics Infrastructure: ( frameworks, standards, classifications, registers ) Input dataProcessingOutput statistics

19. © 2008 by ESCAP 19 Core Set of Economic Statistics A minimum set of statistics needed to monitor the economy and material wellbeing. Includes both primary and derived statistics. Flexibility in the type of statistic and its characteristics (other than frequency) within some statistical categories. Applies to all member countries in principle. In practice, some statistics may not be relevant given the nature of the economy of the member country – but that country will have the capability to produce the core set. Not a set of surveys...but source data needs and best practice imply the need for certain types of surveys. Not a list of source data needed to compile SNA……but..

20. © 2008 by ESCAP 20 Core Set of Economic Statistics …..the statistics are compiled within the SNA and related frameworks. …..the statistics are key … so it can be expected that they will also provide most of the source data needed to compile the national accounts. …the Regional Programme delivers capability. The outcome should be country capability to produce national accounts including obtaining source data that may not be explicitly listed in the core set.

21. © 2008 by ESCAP User Needs Core Set of Economic Statistics Required capabilities to produce the statistics The Regional Programme Content Capability building initiatives determines informs delivers facilitates production of SNA08 implementation

22. © 2008 by ESCAP The three datasets have a different purpose The EWBCI and PGI focus on the short-term indicators and are intended to be used as early warning tools The core set should result in an information database sufficient to inform, analyze and monitor. It is a guide for capacity development. The three datasets have a significant number of statistics in common The Core Set appears to be the most comprehensive of the three covering short-term and structural statistics Some of the statistics that are only included in the Core Set: labour cost index, economy structure statistics, productivity, natural resources, etc Some of the statistics covered by EWBCI or PGI but not included in the Core Set: stock market/share indicators, consumer and business confidence, oil prices (PGI), corporate profits and debt (EWBCI), etc Comparison of the ESCAP Core Set with the EWBCI (earlier version) and PGI

23. © 2008 by ESCAP Consultation with ESCAP member States Earlier version of the Core Set was submitted during August/September 2010 for consideration and comments to all ESCAP members and associate members In total eleven member States provided comments which have been taken into consideration when finalizing the Core Set

24. © 2008 by ESCAP 24 Next steps The finalized versions of the Core Set and the Regional Programme will be submitted for the consideration and endorsement of the Committee on Statistics during its second session, scheduled to take place in December 2010 Given the need for strengthening national statistical systems (NSSs) in Asia and the Pacific through actively advocating for increased commitment from policymakers, particularly in government, the Core Set (we hope) will be subsequently submitted to the ESCAP Commission.

25. © 2008 by ESCAP 25 Questions? Thank you