Organization of efficient Economic Surveys

1. Organization of efficient Economic Surveys Presenter Philip S. Amara Statistics Sierra Leone Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

2. Characteristics of a and good system of economic Surveys • Surveys are designed based on users needs and uses of the output • Clearly defined institutional and legal framework which spells out the legal rights and obligations for collecting data. • Adopts appropriate standards, concepts and classifications that defines the conceptual framework of the system • A good survey frame in the form of regularly updated Business Registers Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

3. Characteristics of a and good system of economic Surveys Cont. • Adopts standard survey design principles and practices with the use of probability sampling as far as possible or practical • A good data collection mechanism • There is an assessment mechanism to provide feedback for improving the system Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

4. User Need Focus • Users needs should form the basis for survey design. • The uses and the users determine the data that must be collected. • Different users might desire different details of the output. • Users and uses dictate , the sources needed ,survey design etc. Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

5. Legal and Institutional framework • Legislative framework which gives the NSO the right to collect data and oblige it to use such data only for statistical purposes. • There is central agency with responsibility for the production and dissemination of official statistics within the country. • NSDS which outlines the activities and output that would be produced over a specified period is required. • The strategic plan should provide a mechanism for the coordination of statistical activities. Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

6. Standard and Concepts • NSOs should adopt the recommended best practices on the design and organization of Economic surveys. • Appropriately modified Standard Recommendations to meet peculiar national circumstances. • The aim should be to make the data produced more internationally comparable. • A data quality management program should be adopted as part of the system focus should be con consumer satisfaction) • The data produced should be assessed for accuracy, fitness for use, relevance, timeliness, presentation, consistency and coherence. • Methods and procedures should be thoroughly documented... Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

7. Survey Frame • A Business Register that contains all units in the survey target population should form the basis for a good system of economic surveys. • The Register should have all the data that is useful for stratification and sample selection. • Industries should be properly classified and new businesses should be included in the register in a timely manner. • Duplicate and inactive businesses should be eliminated in the register and all units included in the register should have contact details. • A system of cooperation and collaboration should be developed with administrative sources. Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

8. Survey Design • Standard survey design practices should be adopted. • Use of probability methods in sample selection is always recommended • However, a combination of methods such as quota sampling, cutoff sampling etc. may be most appropriate in most economic surveys. • The enterprises that are in scope for the survey are clearly identified. • Stratification of enterprise according to their size , geographic and industrial classification is done to improve sample efficiency. • Large size enterprises are usually sampled with certainty • Small to medium scale enterprises are sampled with probability proportional to size. Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

9. Data Collection • Questionnaire design deservers serious attention • The way the data collection instrument is structured affects the response rate and the incidence of misreporting. • The questionnaire must contain only essential questions. • It should be attractive in layout to encourage responds. • The purpose of the survey must be clearly stated on the questionnaire. • It should have clear instructions on how the respond should be recorded including appropriate skips. • It is also good practice to test the survey questionnaire using sound questionnaire testing methods. Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

10. Data Collection • The data collection system suitable for the economy should be adopted. • In developing countries personal interviews may be preferred over other methods of data collection such as mail questionnaires, telephone interviewing etc. • Initial contact to explain the purpose of the survey are very useful to increase respond rates. • Respond rates can also be increase by introducing good follow up procedures and by establishing good rapport with the respondents. • Data editing must be carried out to eliminate errors. • Efforts should be concentrated on influential observations that could have the most significant impact. • This may involve checking large enterprise data thoroughly. • Outliers should be properly handled when detected and missing data should be properly imputed Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

11. Informal Sector • The non-observed economy consist of production activities that are underground, illegal, informal sector, or undertaken by households for their own final use. • In many developing countries, the informal sector constitute a large proportion of the economy. • Measuring the informal sector is therefore important to improve on the exhaustiveness of the national accounts • To provide data for the development of small to medium scale enterprise development policies. Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

12. Informal Sector • Measuring the informal sector possess serious challenges due to the following factors. • Mobilizing resources to conduct informal sector surveys • Determining the appropriate method of measurement-Labour force surveys, household income and expenditure surveys or pure informal sector surveys Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

13. Informal Sector Cont. • The high mobility and turnover of informal activities • Seasonal variations in business activities. • The unwillingness of operators in the informal sector to participate in surveys • The difficulty of identifying respondents and the lack of records on their activities. • The absence of list frames for informal sector activities Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

14. End • Thank You Statistics Sierra Leone, A. J. Momoh Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone