First results of the survey on resources for national accounts

1. First results of the survey on resources for national accounts 10th NBS-OECD Workshop November 2006 Item 7.2 François Lequiller (OECD)-Hendrik Zorn (consultant)

2. Objective of the survey • Give to head of national accounts the possibility to internationally compare resources devoted to national accounts • Sensitive issue: paper has not been put on the web site of OECD • 26 countries have responded • 16 have accepted that their response is made public • 5 have accepted that their response is in OLISnet • 2 prefer that their response remains confidential • 3 has not been yet included in these first results

3. International comparability • The survey has been organised so that to ensure maximum comparability • Simple comparisons are difficult: • Not all countries compile all core national accounts table • National accounts compilation can be more or less outsourced • Processes of national accounts can be more or less complex • Strict comparisons should thus be made on an case by case • The survey contained questions that can help to allow such comparisons. The responses have been transformed into « indicators of complexity ».

4. FTE staff devoted to core activities

5. Improving the comparisons • Table 1 attached • Qualification: the smaller the staff, the more qualified • Staff per million resident: very different picture • Size of country (population) is a factor • Additional activities

6. Relation FTE staff/Population

7. Coverage of core/additional activities • Table 2 attached • Not all countries cover all activities • First indicator of complexity IC1: number of tables covered • Additional activities: Table 3 attached

8. Type of work • Two types of situations: • Complex: the national accounts’ staff treat directly multiple individual units • Simple: the national accounts staff treat directly pre-aggregated sets • Table 4 attached • Second indicator of complexity: IC2

9. Other characteristics of complexity • Table 5 attached • Staff consuming characteristics: -Length of time series -Number of revisions per year -Regular benchmarking -Degree of detail of classification -Separate organisations ANA/QNA • Third indicator of complexity: IC3

10. Is it possible to « model » the staff? • At this point, countries can use the results and compare themselves bilaterally • Is it however possible to « model » the staff? • The OECD National Accounts committee has recommended not to model the staff.

11. Other results • Time comparisons • Significant increase in importance of GG accounts • But not much increase in resources devoted to GG accounts • Survey contains questions on specific situations and projects