2008 SNA - Implementation plans in SPECA countries

1. Session 3 2008 SNA - Implementation plans in SPECA countries Presentation by UNECE Gabriel Gamez 28-29 August 2012

2. Overview 1. Background 2. Completed regional activities on the 2008 SNA implementation 3. Draft implementation plan tables 4. Draft implementation plan tables for SPECA 5. Conclusions reached at the May 2012 meeting in Geneva 6. Planned regional activities on the 2008 SNA implementation 7. Points to consider

3. Background • Recommendations of the UNSC • UN Statistics Division in New York coordinates global implementation • UN regional commissions → regional implementation plans • UNECE to support implementation in South and East Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia • UNECE Survey on SNA implementation in the region in 2010 • 19 replies from the countries of South and East Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia as well as Mongolia • Implementation plans in progress

4. Completed regional activities on the 2008 SNA implementation (1) October2012

5. Completed regional activities on the 2008 SNA implementation (2) October2012

6. Draft implementation plan tables • In 2011 UNECE developed a table to help countries to formulate structured national implementation plans • The table follows the three stages and milestones for the change over to the 2008 SNA as suggested by the ISWGNA • Each stage has been divided into more detailed actions points based on discussions with the countries in the region • The table helps to identify problems and priorities reflecting both users' needs and resources constraints • It enables timely support for the implementation process of the 2008 SNA in the countries • The structure of tables was discussed and refined at the Workshop in Kiev October2012

7. Draft implementation plan tables: Content October2012

8. Draft implementation plan tables for SPECA STAGE 1 - Review of strategic papers October2012

9. Draft implementation plan tables for SPECA STAGE 2 - Review of work needed to support implementation October2012

10. Draft implementation plan tables for SPECA STAGE 3 - Development of National Accounts and changeover Milestone 1. Basic indicators of GDP: Outstanding issues from SNA 1993  • GDP production and expenditure side • Main actions: Data sources, coverage, deflators, quarterly GDP •  GDP exhaustiveness • Main actions: NOE, estimates for illegal activities • GDP at constant prices • Main actions: Deflators, double deflation, GDP by expenditure • Main problems: Need for detailed price indices • Owner-occupied dwellings services • Main actions: Identification of data sources, studies of methodology • Main problems: Lack of information by categories of dwellings • Accrual basis for GFS data recording • Main actions: Discussions with Ministry of Finance and other partners • Supply-Use tables • Main actions: Experimental calculations • Main problems: Lack of human and financial resources to collect and process information • Regional GDP • Main actions: NUTS levels, data sources by regions, cooperation with other institutions October2012

11. Draft implementation plan tables for SPECA STAGE 3 - Development of National Accounts and changeover Milestone 1. Basic indicators of GDP: New issues from 2008 SNA • Output of the Central bank • Main actions: Studies of methodology, discussions with CB, preparation of methods • Main problems: Lack of resources, availability of appropriate data • Calculation of FISIM and allocation to users • Main actions: Studies of methodology, discussions with CB, preparation of methods •  Expenditure on R&D • Main actions: Studies of methodology, discussions in NSO and with other institutions, methods • Main problems: Statistical questionnaires, changes in GFS needed, new survey, resources • Military expenditure • Main actions: Studies of methodology, discussions with MF and others, experimental calculations • Main problems: Lack of resources, changes in GFS needed, military expenditure is confidential •  Consumption of fixed capital & Other changes for fixed assets • Main actions: Perpetual inventory method study, improvement of estimates in government sector, changes in questionnaires, experimental calculations • Main problems: No long time series by types of fixed assets, lack of resources • Goods for processing (sent to and received from abroad) • Main actions: Identification of issues, discussions with other institutions October2012

12. Draft implementation plan tables for SPECA STAGE 3 - Development of National Accounts and changeover Milestone 2. GNI and other primary indicators For rest of the world – external accounts of primary income and current transfers, capital and financial accounts (BPM 6) October2012

13. Draft implementation plan tables for SPECA STAGE 3 - Development of National Accounts and changeover Milestone 3-6. Institutional sector accounts: All accounts: Including Financial accounts, Balance sheets October2012

14. Conclusions reached at the May 2012 meeting in Geneva Countries welcomed the support to the 2008 SNA implementation General agreement to follow the stages and the milestones for the implementation of the 2008 SNA, as suggested by the ISWGNA Particular circumstances in countries should be taken into account to ensure the development of realistic implementation plans Dissemination and communication of the updated national accounts indicators to be addressed in further detail in: Report of activities to support the implementation of the 2008 SNA in Eastern European and Central Asian countries UNECE to establish a website for 2008 SNA implementation Relevant materials and useful links, draft national implementation plan tables http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/SNA2008Imp/Home October2012

15. Conclusions reached at the May 2012 meeting in Geneva Technical assistance and practical guidance needed in a number of areas, such as: Improvement of primary statistics; use of administrative sources and statistical business registers; classifications; prices and volume measures; exhaustiveness of the national accounts; measurement of the non-observed economy; integrated accounts and tables; financial statistics; institutional sector accounts; software; backcasting, time series analysis and seasonal adjustment practices UNECE to provide assistance in the form of methodological guidance, training workshops and materials, in English and Russian Subject to the availability of funding Internal coordination within NSOs to be improved to involve primary statistics in the implementation of the 2008 SNA October2012

16. Conclusions reached at the May 2012 meeting in Geneva Cooperation with Ministries of Finance and Central Banks is crucial The 2008 SNA and the BPM6 implementation should be coordinated Cooperation of regional and international organizations to ensure Efficient and consistent support to countries Coordinated implementation of the BPM6 and the 2008 SNA Special sessions to follow-up on the 2008 SNA implementation To be organized in conjunction with the Meeting of Group of Experts on National Accounts in 2014 and 2016 October2012

17. Planned regional activities on the 2008 SNA implementation October2012

18. Points to consider The 2008 SNA to be implemented while still developing the full system of accounts – a challenge or an advantage? The draft implementation plan tables should be revised by countries during 2012-2013 Technical Assistance and Cooperation: The 2008 SNA implementation depends on the availability of appropriate resources. Allocation of sufficient resources within the national statistical offices to ensure that the plans can actually be implemented Provision of technical assistance by international and regional organisations during the implementation process Funding of the different activities, both from national and international sources, should be considered as part of the implementation plans October2012