The Statistics Newsletter for the extended OECD statistical network

Issue No. 58, February 2013 www..org/std/statisticsnewsletter

Outcomes of the 4th OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy: Measuring Well-Being for Development and Policy Making by the OECD Statistics Directorate

Highlights from the 2012 OECD Compendium of Productivity Indicators by the OECD Statistics Directorate

International Seminar on National Accounts in 2012: Implementation of the 2008 SNA in Asia and the Pacifi c Region and its Challenges by the Bank of Korea

Czech Statistical O ce PROCESSINGIS ACCELERATING OF ELECTION ALL RESULTSTHE TIME 50 YEARSStatistics of STATEC 2 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

Contents

3 Outcomes of the 4th OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy: Measuring Well-Being for Development and Policy Making Martine Durand, Director, OECD Statistics Directorate

8 Highlights from the 2012 OECD Compendium of Productivity Indicators Anita Wölfl and Julien Dupont, OECD Statistics Directorate

12 Statistics Luxembourg Celebrates its 50th Anniversary Nico Weydert, Deputy Director, Statistics Luxembourg

15 Processing of Election Results is Accelerating all the Time Jiří Prox, Unit for Processing of Election Results, (CZSO)

17 International Seminar on National Accounts in 2012: Implementation of the 2008 SNA in Asia and the Pacific Region and Its Challenges Young Bae Kim, Director-General of Economic Statistics Department, Bank of Korea

19 Recent publications

20 Forthcoming meetings

The Statistics Newsletter is published by the OECD Statistics Directorate.

This issue and previous issues can be downloaded from the OECD website: www.oecd.org/std/statisticsnewsletter

Editor-in-Chief: Martine Durand Editor: David Brackfield Editorial and technical support: Sonia Primot

For further information contact: the Editor, the Statistics Newsletter, [email protected]

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Deadline for articles for the next issue: 30th April 2013 Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 3

4TH OECD WORLD FORUM OUTCOMES OF THE 4TH OECD WORLD FORUM ON STATISTICS, KNOWLEDGE AND POLICY: MEASURING WELL-BEING FOR DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY MAKING

Martine Durand, Director, OECD Statistics Directorate

easurement of well-being sub-themed sessions involving has come a long way since speakers from different horizons. Mthe 1st OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy The following conclusions are based held in Palermo, Italy, in 2004. The on a presentation made by Martine Istanbul Declaration, endorsed by Durand, OECD Chief Statistician, in several international organisations at Initiative, the main objectives of the the final session of the Forum, and the 2nd OECD World Forum in Turkey, Forum were to further the discussions have been amended in light of the in 2007, gave impetus to discussions, on the different aspects that make comments and feedback provided leading to the establishment of a for a good life today and in the future by participants in the weeks following broad-based initiative for measuring in different countries of the world, the Forum. . The 3rd OECD World and to promote the development and Forum in Busan, Korea, spelled out use of new measures of well-being the OECD commitment to respond for effective and accountable policy We are witnessing to a strong political demand for making. “a convergence in our developing metrics that go beyond understanding of well- economic production to better The four-day Forum gathered around being. reflect people’s well-being. 900 participants from all over the Martine” Durand world, including policy-makers These events have helped raise the as well as representatives from visibility of the notions of well-being, international organisations, national Achievements progress and sustainability in policy statistics offices, government discussions at the domestic and agencies, academia and civil society. Much has happened in the field of international levels, and helped in It included a combination of keynote well-being over the past few years. anchoring the measurement agenda addresses, round tables and themed At the OECD, in 2011, the OECD associated to these notions in the sessions on material conditions; Secretary-General launched the work programme of the national and ; gender, minorities OECD Better Life Initiative, combining international statistical agencies. & life course perspectives; and data and research from across the Further progress remains necessary, sustainability. Each themed session Organisation and beyond to provide however, to advance the statistical was organised around parallel the first collection of internationally agenda. Even more important today comparable well-being indicators is putting well-being information tailored to the needs and concerns of to use in decision making, in developed countries. This initiative, particular in the perspective of the based on a framework drawing from ongoing discussions on the future the Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi report, of development policies. has served as a basis to develop a common language for the many well- On 16-19 October 2012, the being initiatives undertaken around OECD organised, jointly with the world, proposing a core set of the Government of India, the 4th universal well-being dimensions OECD World Forum on Statistics, that could be adapted, through the Knowledge and Policy under the inclusion of more specific items theme “Measuring Well-Being for and indicators, to the priorities of

Development and Policy Making”. Martine Durand, Chief Statistician and different countries and regions of Building on the OECD Better Life Director of Statistics, OECD the world. 4 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

A series of OECD regional well-being Programme, building on over 20 •• In the field of quality of conferences in Latin America, Asia- years of experience in preparing its life, OECD guidelines on Pacific and Africa, jointly organised “Human Development Report”, has measuring subjective well- with the OECD Development Centre, been stressing the importance and being, classifications to be have taken place over 2011-2012. power of more appropriate measures used in time-use surveys and The outcomes of these conferences of progress to advance towards an recommendations to develop have informed the agenda of the equitable and sustainable future for common metrics for non-fatal 4th OECD World Forum by identifying all. More recently, a Bhutan-led UN health outcomes by various UN regional priorities and concerns, they Resolution has called for greater City Groups. have helped to develop a shared importance to be paid to happiness sense of common purpose and and well-being when implementing •• In the field of sustainability, the direction towards a core set of well- measures to spur social and new UN standard for a System being dimensions where improved , while the of Economic and Environmental metrics are both important and Rio+20 outcome document calls Accounting (SEEA) and the feasible. These conferences also upon the UN Statistical Commission indicator set proposed by helped build strong ties with UN and to launch a programme of work to the UNECE/OECD/ other regional agencies working on develop measures of progress Taskforce. these issues. Finally, these regional complementing GDP. initiatives have fed the web-platform Notwithstanding this progress, a Wikiprogress, which has established Statistical work significant statistical agenda on well- itself as a critical reference source of being, progress and sustainability information for initiatives in this field. The 4th OECD Forum has allowed still lies ahead. This agenda has taking stock of some key initiatives both a short-term and a medium- This work has acted at a catalyst for where significant progress on the term horizon, and in both cases it is many countries to bring well-being statistical front has been, or is being, important to maintain momentum. In to the forefront of their policies. achieved. These include: the short term, it is important to make Individual countries around the better use of the data that already world have launched national well- •• In the field of material conditions, exists, so as to bring information on being programmes and established OECD work to develop the many facets of people’s life to consultative roundtables and guidelines for the measurement the attention of decision makers and parliamentary commissions, with a of household wealth, to citizens. This requires improving the view to developing better well-being, integrate inequalities in the comparability of existing data while progress and sustainability metrics household national accounts, drawing on non-official sources for – and to place them at the heart countries' surveys assessing those domains where quality official of decision-making. While these the economic conditions of statistics are currently lacking. In initiatives have involved countries in specific minorities. the medium term, there is a need all regions of the world, participants to develop statistical guidelines and to the 4th OECD World Forum had the standards for those concepts that opportunity to hear about some of the most important experiences in this field, from Australia to Bhutan, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco and the United Kingdom.

These initiatives are also prominent at international level. The statistical office of the has followed up the political signals provided by the EU Communication “GDP and Beyond” and the “EU2020 Agenda” with a comprehensive set of recommendations to be implemented in its current and future work programme. The UN Development Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 5

benefits (wages and non-wage benefits, as well as training opportunities) and social protection, and representation at the work place.

•• Fourth, improved measures of personal security. These include survey measures of the most common types of violence and victimisation, police support, less conventional crimes, and more difficult-to-measure types of violence such as that against women and children, armed L-R: T. C. A. Anant, Chief Statistician India and Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and conflicts, and inter-ethnic Programme Implementation, Government of India; Angel Gurría, Secretary-General, OECD; Shri Srikant Kumar Jena, Honourable Union Minister of State for Statistics and violence. Programme Implementation and Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India; Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India •• Fifth, improved measures of health status. Registers are currently lacking good quality processes used by public of vital statistics are often indicators. institutions – i.e. whether these underdeveloped in many are transparent and open to developing countries and, even The measurement challenges in front public scrutiny – and whether where they exist (such as in all of us have different dimensions. Some the institutions themselves OECD countries), death records are conceptual, relating to broad are responsive to people’s cannot be easily linked to other concepts such as ‘governance’, demands and expectations. data sources to highlight how whose individual components, •• Second, improved measures of mortality differs across people and the links between them, need social connections. These are with various characteristics, to be spelled out more fully. Some important for many aspects of such as education or income. are more practical measurement people’s life, both intrinsically Other dimensions of health challenges, which apply even (the most pleasurable activities status are less well covered when the underlying concepts are are conducted with others) statistically, and they have clear. Five areas in particular have and instrumentally (they are gained in significance recently. emerged from discussions at the a source of material and These include physical OECD regional conferences and at emotional support in case morbidity, disability, and mental the 4th OECD Forum as being both of need, and an enabler health. key to people’s well-being in all of collective action). While regions of the world, and as lacking measures of social connections a sound conceptual and statistical have been collected by some [There is] a clear call for foundation. statistics offices, they capture “an economy that combines different aspects and are based growth with equity and social •• First, improved indicators on different questions and justice, and for a political of governance and civic reporting instruments. system that makes decisions engagement. They are essential benefitting all citizens for democracies but also difficult •• Third, improved measures of ” to measure. Governance and quality of jobs. Measures in Shri Srikant Kumar Jena civic engagement encompass this field need to go beyond issues such as corruption, the the conventional counting on Beyond these specific domains rule of law, access to justice how many people have a paid where further specific statistical work and other public services, job, to include aspects such as is needed, a number of more general trust in institutions and active informality, underemployment, and cross-cutting challenges clearly participation in democratic contractual relations, exposure deserve attention. These require processes. But it also includes to stress and hazards, work recognising the importance of: measures of the internal autonomy and control, access to 6 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

•• Indicators based on self- regularly reporting on resulting reports by respondents, outcomes at national and local levels, as complements to more and across different population traditional measures for groups. objective outcomes. In the light of the wide differences •• Assessing the dispersion in statistical capacity across of all well-being outcomes, countries, meeting these challenges alongside their average levels, will require building capacity, especially at the lower end of technical assistance and regional the distribution and for specific co-operation. Also, with such a large groups such as indigenous array of work to achieve, and with populations, women, and other national statistics budgets under vulnerable groups. pressure, it is vital to make use of all available data, including non-official Joseph E. Stiglitz, Columbia University and •• Undertaking analysis of the data, making investments to improve Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India joint distribution of different their quality where this is required. well-being achievements at the level of each person and In all these areas, work has to start household. with agreeing on concepts and No cottage industry definitions and then continuing with “has developed to explain •• Considering different levels of practical guidelines for obtaining differences in performances analysis, both across space (i.e. relevant data in a cost-effective way. in measuring other outcomes global, national, regional, local, The OECD is committed to pursuing [than GDP] city, naturally designated areas this measurement agenda in Joseph Stiglitz” such as river basins) and across collaboration with other international population groups (based on organisations, UN regional agencies, people’s gender, ethnicity, regional development banks and Using new metrics in the policy minority status, phase of the other statistical actors to develop process will require recognising life-course). better and more comparable metrics and measuring the multiple of well-being and progress. interrelations of different well-being •• Establishing better metrics for dimensions, assessing the possible assessing sustainability, i.e. Policy work trade-offs between different goals, measures of the well-being and leveraging synergies across outcomes of future generations Probably most important of all is policy areas. This cross-cutting and of the trans-boundary the need to use better well-being and multi-dimensional perspective impacts of domestic behaviours metrics to inform policies. In this is often lost in policy making, as and policy decisions. respect, as noted by some of the government actions are traditionally most eminent speakers at this organised in ‘silos’, focusing on •• Increasing the timeliness with Forum, much of the work is still in sectoral or departmental objectives. which we report to the public on front of us, and more collaborative Mechanisms exist for bringing most of our well-being metrics. research will be needed to make this different aspects of policy making happen. An international research together, and for assessing the In all these areas, progress will agenda on the use of new well-being effects of each specific types of benefit from greater international measures is crucial for moving from policy against several well-being co-operation. But the importance measurement to informing decision dimensions. There are also some of furthering statistical work in making: for creating awareness and good practices already underway these areas is not confined to the knowledge; for impacting on the and some examples of how well- international and regional level. It behaviours of citizens; civil society; being is being recognised as a is essential that national statistics the business community (through suitable framework for policies, offices and other producers new business models); journalists both at the local and national level, of statistics co-operate with and media; policy makers; and and by countries at different levels international organisations and official statisticians themselves. of economic development. We collect and publish more timely should build on these approaches and comparable well-being metrics, in order to establish mechanisms Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 7

for policy-formulation and framework should be relevant to a implementation that take multi- broader constituency of countries, dimensional interactions into be based on a holistic approach account. The OECD encourages to development that combines individual countries to review their poverty, well-being and sustainable policy-setting. Local communities, development goals, allowing NGOs and businesses all have a flexibility in goal setting, greater role to play in this process so as to country ownership, and recognition achieve well-being for all. of country realities. Placing people’s lives – their needs, their ambitions Developing better well-being metrics and their feelings – at the centre of The International Year of is not an end in itself, but a way development policy should be the Statistics (Statistics2013) of engaging different actors in a fundamental goal. reflection on the type of society that The International Year of Statistics we want to create, and to change What next? (Statistics2013) is a worldwide policies and behaviours to move in celebration and recognition of the that direction. The final objective The 4th OECD World Forum has contributions of statistical science. should be to transform the notions started to look at this broader Through the combined energies of well-being and progress from agenda, one that reaches well of organisations worldwide, implicit, unexamined aspirations of beyond statisticians, and the OECD Statistics2013 will promote the citizens and societies to an explicit, is committed to pursuing it further in importance of Statistics to the systematic goal for policies in all the years ahead. But the 4th OECD broader scientific community, fields. This requires moving away Forum has also shown that there is a business and government data users, from single proxies such as GDP clear need for regular stocktaking and the media, policy makers, employers, towards indicator sets that reflect continued consultation: for periodic students, and the general public. in a more comprehensive way what assessment of measurement and really matters to people. research to establish where we The goals of Statistics2013 include: stand and where progress is needed; •• increase public awareness One important message from the for sharing policy experiences to of the power and impact of 4th OECD Forum is that the notions establish what works; for reaching Statistics on all aspects of of well-being and progress are out to all actors in society (citizens, society; relevant to all people around the civil society, businesses, organised •• nurture Statistics as a world. This has implications for how labour, academics across several profession, especially among we think about ‘development’, and disciplines, policy makers) to achieve young people; and for the type of framework that could legitimacy and accountability, and to •• promote creativity and replace the Millennium Development maximise the quality of information; development in the sciences Goals in 2015. The distinction for using well-being measures in of Probability and Statistics between emerging, developing and cost-benefit analysis and programme developed countries is, to a large evaluation. To pursue such regular The OECD is pleased to participate extent, a thing of the past. A more stocktaking, a 5th OECD World Forum in these celebrations by organising holistic approach to development will be held in 2015, hosted by the an OECD Statistics Day around the should recognise all the aspects that Government of Mexico. theme of increasing public awareness make life decent and worth living. In of the power and impact of Statistics many countries, economic growth The OECD wishes to thank the on all aspects of society. An OECD coupled with reduction of extreme Government of India for hosting Stat of the week will also be poverty, remains the number one the 4th OECD World Forum, and published throughout 2013. priority, but other basic needs to express its gratitude to the such as good health, education, Governments of Mexico, Japan and Statistics2013 at the OECD security, clean water and quality Morocco, and to the e-Frame Project www.oecd.org/statistics/ air are also important, as is the Co-ordinators for organising and statistics2013attheoecd.htm common responsibility of countries hosting the regional conferences that around the world to deliver critical shaped the 4th OECD World Forum. Statistics2013 public goods. The OECD is ready http://statistics2013.org to contribute to discussions on the post-2015 development. Such a 8 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

Productivity HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2012 OECD COMPENDIUM OF PRODUCTIVITY INDICATORS

Anita Wölfl and Julien Dupont, OECD Statistics Directorate

n December 2012, the OECD The following key empirical findings From 1995 to 2010, GDP growth in published the 2012 OECD have emerged from the analysis, most OECD countries was largely ICompendium of Productivity including a number of areas where driven by growth in capital services Indicators; a timely response to the measurement challenges remain. and MFP. Indeed, MFP was the increasing need for policy advice major driver of labour productivity, on issues related to productivity Productivity growth is key for representing between one half and international competitiveness. growth and living standards and two thirds of aggregate labour Indeed, in the wake of the 2008 productivity growth across countries. financial crisis and the on-going Over the past fifteen years, Euro area crisis, international differences in GDP per capita growth Over the past three decades, labour competitiveness has returned to the across OECD countries were mainly productivity growth has followed top of the policy agenda. Productivity attributable to differences in growth very different trends across OECD and Unit labour Costs (ULCs) are in GDP per hour worked (labour countries. Interestingly, the data widely recognised as being two of productivity). Strong growth in point to a decline in trend labour the most important drivers in this labour productivity also helped some productivity growth since the second context. countries with initially low GDP per half of the 1990s up to 2007 for most capita levels to converge towards G7 countries. The 2012 OECD Compendium of average income levels in the OECD. Productivity Indicators presents a Nevertheless, in 2011, significant Since 2007, labour productivity broad overview of recent and longer differences in GDP per capita growth has fallen significantly for term trends in productivity levels remained across OECD countries, most OECD countries for which and growth in OECD countries. mainly reflecting differences in data are available, and this decline It also highlights some of the labour productivity levels and only is broadly spread across sectors. key measurement issues faced marginally differences in labour Interestingly though, countries when compiling cross-country utilisation. differed significantly in the way comparable productivity indicators labour input adjusted to the crisis. and points to the necessary caveats In some countries this mainly when interpreting the data. The Figure 1. Growth in GDP per hour worked, total economy compendium analyses the role of productivity in GDP per capita Average annual growth rates, in percent growth and convergence and the 1995-2011 2001-07 2007-11 contributions of labour, capital and 8.0 multifactor productivity (MFP) in 6.0 driving economic growth. It looks at the contribution of individual 4.0 industries as well as the role of firm 2.0 size and business dynamics for productivity growth. It also analyses 0.0 the link between productivity, unit -2.0 labour costs and international -4.0 competitiveness. And looks at what determines the cyclical patterns of -6.0 Italy Chile Israel Spain Korea

labour and multifactor productivity Japan Turkey Ireland France Austria Poland Greece Iceland Finland Mexico Estonia Norway Canada Sweden Belgium Portugal Hungary Slovenia Australia Denmark growth. Germany Switzerland Netherlands Luxembourg New Zealand New UnitedStates Czech Slovak Republic Slovak United Kingdom United

Source: OECD Productivity database, 2012 Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 9

Figure 2. Growth in real value-added per hour worked in manufacturing and business sector services Average annual growth rates, in percent

1995-2011* 2001-2007 2007-2011* 10.0 10.0 Manufacturing Business sector services excl. real estate 8.0 8.0

6.0 6.0

4.0 4.0

2.0 2.0

0.0 0.0

-2.0 -2.0

-4.0 -4.0 ITA ITA FIN FIN PRT ESP FRA PRT ESP FRA AUT CZE CZE AUT SVN SVN NLD NLD DEU DEU CAN CAN DNK DNK HUN HUN NOR NOR SWE SWE

Source: OECD Productivity database, 2012 Firm size matters occurred through reductions in Some care is needed in interpretation, Firm size matters for productivity; average hours worked per person though, as the comparability of although the link is more pronounced engaged and in others through job productivity growth across industries for levels than for growth. Larger cuts. The consequence of this, and and countries may be affected by firms are on average more productive important lesson for productivity problems in measuring real value than smaller ones - a conclusion that measurement, is that head-counts added. This is of particular relevance generally holds for all industries in all are less reliable as a proxy for for services where it is difficult to countries. Moreover, countries with a measuring hours worked; the more isolate price effects that are due to larger share of employment in firms appropriate measure of labour input. changes in the quality or the mix of with less than 20 persons employed services from pure price changes. typically show lower productivity Manufacturing and market Despite substantial progress growth rates. The relationship is, services contribute most made over the past ten years in however, not clear-cut, which may compiling Service Producer Price indicate positive effects of the entry Over the past fifteen years, Indices (SPPIs) the methods used of some young and innovative firms productivity growth in the non- to compute real value added still vary for aggregate productivity growth. agricultural business sector across OECD countries. was almost entirely driven by There are some tentative indications manufacturing and market services. Looking at the sectoral data, of a positive correlation between In the case of manufacturing, this capital deepening appears to entry and churning rates on the one reflects relatively high productivity have contributed very little to hand and labour productivity growth growth rates. In the case of market labour productivity growth across on the other. However, again, the services, where productivity all sectors. But one needs to be relationship is far from clear as the growth was lower, it partly reflects cautious here as this may be related number of countries for which data a continuing shift in employment and to problems measuring capital on business dynamics are available value-added towards specialised input at the sectoral level. In fact, is still limited. Moreover other market services. evidence for the whole economy factors may play a significant role suggests that Information and in determining overall productivity For those countries for which data Communication Technologies (ICT) growth, e.g., productivity growth are available, labour productivity have taken an increasing share in existing businesses or industry growth in the manufacturing sector of overall investment. However, composition effects, which may be was almost entirely driven by MFP, due to a lack of detailed data, the hidden within this partial relationship. and MFP was also the main driver capital input measure used in the in the business services sector. OECD Productivity Database by The relationship between entry and MFP typically reflects overall Industry (PDBi) cannot account for exit rates may also be somewhat improvements in efficiency, for the higher productivity of these ICT biased by issues related to the instance linked to investment in assets. As such the contribution of measurement and definition of research and development or other capital to economic growth may be enterprises. For instance, large intangible assets, spillover effects underestimated, and, by implication, countries are, other things equal, or organisational changes. MFP overestimated. likely to exhibit lower entry and exit rates than smaller countries within 10 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

an economic area as they are real effective exchange rates, The cyclical pattern of MFP has able to expand within the national suggests that low labour costs and sometimes been interpreted as a economic territory via the creation high export performance go hand in paradox, as MFP has traditionally of new establishments. For smaller hand. The results show that those G7 been perceived as exogenous countries similar expansions will countries that kept labour costs low technological change, which should be recorded as a birth if the parent over the past 15 years also recorded typically not behave cyclically. enterprise in one country expands by increases in market shares and vice However, it has to be kept in mind the creation of an affiliate enterprise versa. that the MFP measure in the OECD in a neighbouring country. Productivity Database allows for Again, one needs to be cautious in non-constant returns to scale and Productivity growth drives interpretation however. International imperfect competition, and has to competitiveness trade statistics measure trade on a be interpreted in a broader sense. gross basis and, so, include the value Beyond disembodied technological Over the last 15 years, the G7 of imports embodied in goods and change, it also reflects factors such and most of the early members services as well as domestic value- as economies of scale, adjustment of the Euro area increased their added created in other domestic costs, pure efficiency change, competitiveness, as measured sectors that returns embodied in variations in capacity utilisation, and mainly by ULCs, relative to other imports. This 'double-counting' measurement errors. countries. Very low increases in particularly affects those firms ULCs have typically been achieved closely integrated into global value With MFP being computed as a by keeping labour costs low in chains, such as processing firms. residual, pro-cyclical MFP growth both industry and market services. A joint OECD-WTO initiative has is driven by the adjustments of Moreover, those countries with been launched to measure trade in labour and capital input to up- and relatively low growth also displayed value-added terms that separately downturns. While the contribution strong growth in labour productivity. identifies these 'double-counted' of labour input fluctuated relatively flows. strongly for most G7 countries, up to Since 2007, some peripheral Euro 2007, the adjustments typically came area countries recorded strongly Productivity shows a with a lag. In contrast, the contribution falling ULCs. However, care is pro-cyclical pattern of capital input changes little over needed in interpreting these results the cycle. This may be a signal for as improved relative competiveness, MFP follows GDP growth very closely, the existence of adjustment costs since the falls typically went hand in not only in terms of the direction but that would prevent an immediate hand with significant falls in output also the size of the change. Since up- or downsizing of capacity. and labour input. 2007, MFP fell significantly, although, Moreover, capital input reflects the given the pro-cyclical pattern of accumulation of past investment Moreover, the empirical evidence MFP, it is too early to say whether of all firms in the economy, and using a larger set of indicators this reflects a structural change and so although investment is typically of international competitiveness, hence a lower long-term trend. relatively volatile, capital stock and including export performance, capital services estimates are less global export market shares, and so.

Figure 3. Contribution of labour, capital and MFP to growth in GDP over time Annual growth rates, in percent

Labour input Capital input MFP

6.0 6.0

4.0 4.0

2.0 2.0

0.0 0.0

-2.0 -2.0

-4.0 -4.0 Canada United Kingdom -6.0 -6.0 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

Source: OECD Productivity database, 2012 Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 11

The cyclical pattern of MFP may that will deal with particular topics OECD Factbook also reflect remaining issues of related to productivity in more detail. 2013 measurement. Most notably, Among the topics envisaged for Economic, variations over the cycle in the future work are for instance mark-up Environmental and rate in which the available capital estimations; econometric cross- Social Statistics and labour are used are not yet sectional and time series analysis of accurately taken into account in productivity growth; the integration OECD (2013), measured labour and capital inputs. of intangible assets into the capital OECD Factbook This is particularly true for capital, services measure of the OECD; the 2013: Economic, where – linked to weak information inclusion of environmental issues in Environmental and – the rate of capacity utilisation is MFP measures; or productivity and Social Statistics, assumed to be constant over the competitiveness indicators in a world OECD Publishing. cycle. And hence MFP computed of global value chains. as a residual also captures those www.oecd.org/publications/ variations in capacity utilisation over At the same time, the OECD factbook/ the cycle. continues its work on productivity measurement in cooperation with The online version is free at http:// In the case of labour input, national statistics offices. Improved dx.doi.org/10.1787/factbook-2013-en theoretically, the rate of labour country and industry coverage is utilisation and hence the cyclical paramount but so too is the need OECD Factbook 2013 is a effects should be well-captured to improve the measurement and comprehensive and dynamic as labour input is measured by the coherence of data on hours worked, statistical annual publication from the preferred measure of total actual both at the aggregate and sectoral OECD. More than 100 indicators cover hours worked. Continuous labour level. Similarly, efforts are being a wide range of areas: agriculture, force surveys would provide a basis made to improve the quality of economic production, education, for this. However in practice, total capital input measures (particularly energy, environment, foreign aid, hours worked are often measured at the sectoral level, but also to health, industry, information and based on hours typically worked, begin to reflect capacity utilisation communications, international trade, or actual hours worked during a adjustments). labour force, population, taxation, reference week which are then public expenditure, and R&D. This extrapolated over the year using year, the OECD Factbook features additional data sources. These may a focus chapter on gender. not sufficiently capture variations in Key links: actual hours worked over the cycle. Data are provided for all OECD 2012 OECD Compendium of member countries including area Where to find the Productivity Productivity Indicators: www.oecd. totals, and in some cases for Compendium and what’s next? org/std/productivity-stats/2012oe selected non-member economies cdcompendiumofproductivityindic (including Brazil, China, India, The 2012 OECD Compendium of ators.htm Indonesia, Russia & South Africa). Productivity Indicators is available For each indicator, there is a two- as an e-book on the OECD website. Productivity Statistics: www.oecd. page spread: a text page includes Underlying data and additional org/std/productivity-stats/ a short introduction followed by a methodological documents can be detailed definition of the indicator, found on the OECD Productivity Productivity Database: www. comments on comparability of website. oecd.org/std/productivity-stats/ the data, an assessment of long- productivitystatistics.htm term trends related to the indicator From 2012 onwards, the OECD and a list of references for further Productivity Compendium will be Joint OECD-WTO initiative on trade information on the indicator; the produced on an annual basis. The in value-added: www.oecd.org/ opposite page contains a table and 2012 version lays the ground for this trade/valueadded a graph providing – at a glance – the in terms of content, structure and key message conveyed by the data. draft of the indicator part and the A dynamic link (StatLink) is provided methodological annexes. For future for each table where readers can versions, the idea is to complement download the corresponding data. these two parts with special chapters 12 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

Statistics Luxembourg Statistics Luxembourg celebrates its 50th anniversary

Nico Weydert, Deputy Director, Statistics Luxembourg

n 22 June 2012, one day before the national holiday, Statistics OLuxembourg celebrated its 50th anniversary in the presence of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, Mr Etienne Schneider, Minister of Economic affairs and External trade and 300 renowned guests from the political and professional world, as well as current and former staff of Statistics Luxembourg. The celebration took place at the Cultural Centre of the Neumünster Abbey and the distinguished audience listened to speeches by Dr Serge Allegrezza welcomes Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Mr Etienne Schneider, Minister of Mr Etienne Schneider, Minister of Economic Affairs and External Trade Economic affairs and External Trade, Mr Walter Radermacher, General second was to analyse the present facilitated organisational synergies, Director of Eurostat, Mr Georges economic situation and establish like secretarial work, documentation Als, the first Director of Statistics forecasts for budgetary purposes and publications. Luxembourg, Dr Serge Allegrezza, on the basis of rudimentary national General Director of Statistics accounts. Both bodies were under Not surprisingly Eurostat, located Luxembourg. These official speeches the responsibility of the Ministry of in Luxembourg, stood godfather were followed by a more humoristic Economic affairs. During the 50s to the new born National Statistical approach to statistics by the Director the division of work between the Institute, at least for choosing the of the Centre, Mr Claude Frisoni. two bodies became less clear cut acronym STATEC. The name comes His astonishing views on statistics and the striving for harmonisation from the contraction of “statistics” presented a transition to the cocktail in official statistics, together with a lunch in the agora of the Abbey. more solid assessment of statistical work on sound methodology, led to A Historical Overview the merging of both bodies in the early sixties. As in many countries, the first signs of official statistics in Luxembourg go The law of 9 July 1962 created the back to the mid of the 19th century. Central Service for Statistics and A more consequent organisation Economic Studies (“Service central of official statistics started after de la statistique et des études World War II. On 27 July 1945 the économiques”), best known under “Service of Economic Studies and its acronym “STATEC”. This law Documentation” was created and officialised the merger of the two a few days later on 2 August 1945 bodies created in 1945. The 1962 the “Office of General Statistics” reorganisation was to improve saw the light of day. Whereas the communication and coherence first dealt with data collection between data collection and general Director Serge Allegrezza during his through censuses or surveys, the economic and social analysis. It also speech Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 13

and coordination: “To respond to the need for consistent information and statistical analysis in the economic, social and environmental fields, the instruments of data collection, of sectoral observation and of analysis should be recast (…). STATEC with its privileged position vis-à-vis international statistical organizations - Eurostat, OECD, UN – shall be the centre of the reinforcement and redeployment of human and financial resources currently scattered and lacking efficiency ...”.

Centre Administratif Pierre Werner where Statistics Luxembourg is located Inside STATEC a large consultation and discussion took place and and “. It was the proposal servants in 1963, to 78 in 1990 and everybody was asked to give their of the Director General of Eurostat, to 171 in 2010. The most notable views on the strategic orientation of Mr Vittorio Paretti, said the first change took place in the composition the office and to contribute to the director of STATEC, Mr Georges of the staff: in the beginning it had formulation of the draft law. This led Als, in his 50th anniversary speech. only 6 academic staff members. to a further extension of the tasks For that excellent proposal Mr Paretti The 1971 law extended this limit to of the institute, which are outlined was awarded a bottle of prestigious 12, which quickly revealed itself as below. The overall objective of the champagne! being a major barrier to complete new law is to set up a commitment the ever growing complexity of the for confidence in statistics as well as The statistical law did not change statistical work. This limit was lifted setting up and streamlining a national fundamentally over the last five by a change in the law in 2006. As statistical system led by Statistics decades. Although national accounts far as its statistical governance is Luxembourg. were not explicitly quoted in the remit concerned, STATEC experienced of the 1962 law, the development a very stable governing structure The thorough examination and of this domain was an important with only three general directors discussion in different bodies of internal activity, especially in from 1962 on: Mr Georges Als (until the Parliament and the State Council the context of the international 1990), Mr Robert Weides (until 2004), finally gave birth to the law of 10 methodological harmonisation, followed by today’s director general, July 2011 transforming the former both at OECD and at European level. Dr Serge Allegrezza. Service into the National Institute National accounts, according to the for Statistics and Economic Studies. European System of Accounts (ESA), A New Legal Framework for the The countrywide known acronym became an official remit in 1971 and National Statistical System STATEC was to remain. From a so did economic forecasts based on statistical point of view it strikes national accounts. At the same time At the turn of the millennium, the that almost all voting at Parliament a Supreme Council of Statistics was need for a structural reorganisation related to the legal framework of created to evaluate and to discuss became more and more obvious. statistics happened between early the working program of STATEC. The From a set of more or less July and early August. elaboration of balance of payments independent units the organisation statistics became a remit in 1993. was structured along four divisions A National Statistical System in comprising units of different sizes. Line with the Code of Practice Since its creation, the structure Due to the fact that during four and the programmes of STATEC decades hardly any fundamental The law defines the scope of official were largely conditioned by the changes were enshrined into a legal statistics and at the same time it development of European statistics, text, the changes towards a more includes provisions for improved mostly introduced through a set coordinated statistical system would planning and programming of of new regulations. With the ever necessarily be substantial. The official statistics to be established growing tasks the staff of STATEC government programme of 2004 in consultation with the Ministry increased over time. From 55 civil also claimed for better centralisation of Economic affairs and External 14 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

trade and the Supreme Council of of Official Statistics and the Supreme it is ever more important to become Statistics. On the other hand scientific Council of Statistics. involved in changes in administrative and professional independence data at an early stage which in turn is anchored in the law which also The Committee of Official Statistics will lead to a decrease in response makes an explicit reference to was created in order to coordinate burden. the Code of Practice of Statistics. with STATEC and the national The law also gives a more precise statistical system. It comprises The Supreme Council of Statistics definition of the role of the head almost 40 different institutions and is meant to represent the views of Statistics Luxembourg, among administrations, the latter playing an and needs of civil society with others in relation to the Committee ever increasing role in the provision of respect to the statistical program administrative data. For statisticians on one hand, and on the other to assess compliance with the Code of Practice. In this respect it can The New Statistical Law in a Nutshell be considered as a sort of national “ESGAB” (European Statistical 1) STATEC is designated as "National Statistical Authority." It is responsible for ensuring the Governance Advisory Board). implementation of European and international standards in statistics. Regulation 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council requires Member States to organise their national Extension of Research Remit statistical system under the direction of a national authority and to integrate into the European statistical system. The new statistical law also entitles STATEC to carry out scientific 2) In addition to the population census, the law also foresees an inventory of homes and buildings, research on economic, demographic, foundation for a coherent statistic on the housing market. social and environmental modeling and to publish the relating results. 3) Together with the Central Bank of Luxembourg, STATEC will establish financial accounts in In this respect it can also carry out addition to the joint development of balance of payments statistics. R&D activities which are coordinated at national level. The institute is 4) The remit “studies, forecasts and research" is expanded: authorised to publish any studies or research work which contribute •• global or sectoral economic forecasts to the scientific analysis of the •• economic, social and demographic projections Luxembourg economy and society. •• studies related to the present state of the economy To assist and evaluate the high •• studies related to environmental aspects quality of this work the law foresees a •• applied scientific research (in coordination with the Interdepartmental Coordinating high level Scientific Committee from Committee for R & D). academia.

5) STATEC goes "green": the Institute shall collect statistics on environment, which gets the same With this new legal framework in importance as traditional economic, financial and social lines. place the challenge from 2013 onwards will be to put the national 6) The law addresses the need to limit the administrative burden through increased use of statistical system into practice, to administrative data for statistical purposes. make all other statistical authorities comply with the Code of Practice The Central Balance Sheet Data Office is a good example of simplification and reduction of and to build up a national statistical administrative burden. This project, now officially entrusted to STATEC and launched in 2012, system able to respond to the took over 20 years of patient work to become reality! ever increasing demand for official statistics without increasing the 7) In order to simplify and reduce the administrative burden, a Committee on Official Statistics has response burden for enterprises and been created. It coordinates and streamlines the decentralised statistical activity in administrations, households. departments, observatories and other public organisations. STATEC shall act as the head of the national statistical system. Key link: 8) The important principles of independence and transparency of the Code of Practice of the European Statistics are anchored in law. The de facto independence of STATEC is now explicit STATEC: www..lu and protected. Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 15

Czech Statistical Office Processing of election results is accelerating all the time

Jiří Prox, Unit for Processing of Election Results, Czech Statistical Office (CZSO)

n 2010, at elections for the said that the time of processing •• Elaborate on obligatory Chamber of Deputies, the total total results depends only on how system for election results and Ielection results were processed fast individual ward committees processing; in 7.5 hours after polling stations are working. Thanks to the growing closed, i.e. 1.5 hours faster than in use of the ward programme, which •• Develop software for the 2006. This was thanks to the Czech accelerates the work of committees purposes of processing and Statistical Office (CZSO), which and shortens the transfer at the dissemination of election has developed and implemented a transfer points, the overall results results; unique technical solution. of elections are published with ever shorter delay. •• Make and maintain The new way of processing election nomenclatures and registers results has been used in the Czech Scope of activity of the Czech of candidates and electoral Republic since 2000. At that time, Statistical Office in elections parties; election laws were substantially amended – they entrusted the Nowadays, the Czech Statistical •• Collect and process election organisation of elections to a Office ensures processing of results results; system of election bodies and of all elections, which take place in is now executed by the public the territory of the Czech Republic, •• Provide and present election administration. namely: results.

It is crucial in the new way of •• European Parliament; In order to successfully ensure processing election results that these tasks are met, an independent voting results in an electoral ward are •• Chamber of Deputies of the management structure has been determined when a ward committee Parliament of the Czech introduced at the CZSO, namely signs a "record of the progress and Republic; the Election Steering Committee. result of voting". No other election Part of it is also an administrating body but the CZSO has the right •• Senate of the Parliament of the professional unit – Unit for Processing to re-examine election results. It Czech Republic; Election Results, the activity of which is solely the CZSO, which at the is unlimited in time. Other working takeover controls their completeness •• Regional councils; teams and management staff are and logical correctness. The activated according to the schedule complete results of elections •• Local councils; and of activities only in the period before are calculated from ward results elections. Generally, preparation for totalled for a respective election •• Extraordinary elections. elections and processing of their territory. The technical solution for results are directly linked to the processing elections emphasizes The CZSO ensures also processing territorial breakdown of the state. safety, resistance, transparency and of results of nationwide referenda. also speed. Up to now, only the Referendum on Registers of candidates the Accession of the Czech Republic The system works in real time, partial to the European Union in 2003 has In order to do everything in time, the data are continuously processed, taken place. Unit for Processing Election Results sent and immediately published. of the CZSO starts preparation Thanks to the system parameters, As an election body it has to: usually several months before final results are available almost elections are announced. A team, immediately after the data of the which puts together the technical last ward are sent. Thus, it can be project, is composed of CZSO 16 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

staff created from several units. The processing itself starts for processed in the form of a record, According to the project timeline, the the CZSO the moment when which is sent to the relevant output software is created and “Guidelines representatives of a ward committee point for an approval and signature for Ward Committees” are prepared, come with the “Record on the by persons determined by law. Then which describe the methodology progress and result of voting in the it is published on the results webpage for finding out the result of voting electoral ward” to the takeover point. of the CZSO. The final approval of in an electoral ward. A scenario is There, the record is checked, data election results belongs to the State drafted for an instructional video from the record are transferred and Election Committee, which receives programme and other tools are after further controls sent to the total results from a representative prepared for professional training central database. of the CZSO immediately after the courses. Immediately after elections elections. are announced, a detailed schedule When inadequacies are found in of activities is made and a financial the record, representatives of the Well coordinated election budget is created. committee are asked to correct orchestra them. If a record is without mistakes, In co-operation with registration they receive confirmation on the During elections to the Chamber of offices, the CZSO establishes a successful transfer and as a control, Deputies in 2010, the CZSO ensured register of candidates and electoral a copy also taken. Already at that takeover of results of voting from parties, which it maintains and moment it is therefore possible to the total of 14 894 electoral wards; updates until the date of elections. ensure that voting results have been there were 507 takeover points, processed correctly. 14 output points on the regional Regional and district administrators level, the central workplace in the of elections negotiate with authorised Ward data are saved and at the same building of the CZSO in municipal offices establishing time also backed up in the central and a presentation workplace at election workplaces, so-called database. Immediately after their the State Election Committee. takeover and output points, and saving they are published. Thus, At regional election workplaces, ensure recruitment and training of any member of the public can the CZSO ensured processing of the necessary workers. Workplaces perform their own quality control on election results with about 3 200 in co-operation with authorised the transferred data by comparing persons, of whom more than 1 000 offices are equipped with computer it directly to the ward record. This were CZSO staff (including about technology and connected to a system is absolutely “transparent” 800 with authorisation in the sense secure computer network, created and any distortion of data would be of the election law). For the capture for this single purpose. Shortly revealed fast. of input data, transmission to the before the elections, usually central processing and presentation three tests of processing results As soon as partial results are of ongoing and final results; 1 800 take place. At that time, selected available for the entire election computers were used. workers of the CZSO participate in territory, counting of votes takes training representatives of almost 15 place. Then the votes are converted Additional people and technical thousand ward committees. to mandates. The overall results are systems are involved in the receipt

Progress of processing

During the preparatory works, from among authorised workers of the CZSO, heads of individual election workplaces are appointed and a central processing team is established. Those workers ensure processing of results and their presentation. To support the work of ward committees, the CZSO creates special software, a so-called "ward programme". Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 17

of election results from abroad, presentation of election results. Another way to present nationwide the central processing, and the All election data the CZSO has elections results is in the form presentation of results at the CZSO since 1990 are stored and available of a publication. Formerly, paper as well as presentation at the State there. It contains election results publications were made, but recently Election Committee. The ward as well as registers of candidates electronic forms are more preferred. programme for processing the or accompanying nomenclatures. Total results of elections including record was used by 80% of ward Data breakdown corresponds to the data sets are available also on a committees. type of elections, election systems CD. Extraordinary elections and used, and the structure of election their results are published usually Presentation of results territories. The second address is together, as a rule, for the entire auxiliary and presents updates of election period. Paper publications The public is informed about election ongoing election results taking place and CDs can be ordered and bought results officially via the following two during the time of the processing. from the Information Services of the websites: www.volby.cz and www. Only brief data are available at this CZSO. Electronic publications are volbyhned.cz. website and it serves to reduce the available on the CZSO website www. load on the first website. czso.cz. The first website is basic and serves primarily for the long-term

Bank of Korea International Seminar on National Accounts in 2012: Implementation of the 2008 SNA in Asia and the Pacific Region and Its Challenges

Young Bae Kim, Director-General of Economic Statistics Department, Bank of Korea

Bank of Korea, UNSD and UNESCAP that the presentation of key In Session 1, Gulab Singh (UNSD), Seoul, 18-19 September 2012 criterion, application methods and Young Tai Kim and Daniel Clarke estimation results by the nation’s (UNESCAP) presented the he seminar was split into experts would lead the SNA08 implementation status of SNA08 five sessions and covered all implementation of the Asia-Pacific around the world, Korea and the Tthe major topics considered nations. Meanwhile, international Asia-Pacific nations and introduced necessary in understanding organisations, including the UN and the role of national statistics implementation of SNA08. Included OECD, are recommending prompt offices in individual countries and was the current implementation implementation by all countries. organisations such as the UN, OECD, status of the SNA08 in Asia and IMF, internationally in ensuring Pacific countries. All agenda Byung Sam Yoo (professor of Yonsei efficient progress in the pursuit of items were related to the topic of University and chairperson of the the project. Of the 197 UN member implementation status which was Advisory Committee on Korean countries, 157 of these countries seen as core. It was noted that National Accounts) and Gulab Singh, (81%) are following SNA93. The the Bank of Korea could currently participating on behalf of the Director remainder, including a number of estimate the effect of implementing of UNSD, Paul Cheung, noted that African nations, are still compiling SNA08 on Korean national income statistics based on the new national national accounts according to due to work carried out and because accounts standards would match the previous version of the SNA e.g. of work done in other countries that change in the economic environment 1968. A survey of these countries provided robust ratios etc. and provide more relevant information not using SNA93 found that the most than before. They also praised the urgent matters were lack of political Jun Il Kim, Deputy Governor of national statistics offices from all support and the inability to collect the Bank of Korea, delivered the nations who had put in a lot of effort. basic data. welcoming address and emphasised 18 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

Korea is on track in implementing In the financial sector, subdivision National Accounts SNA08 standards by 2014 along with and the change of the outcome at a Glance 2013 most major industrialised nations. calculation method for financial Considering the results of trials instruments was introduced. Korean undertaken to date, it is possible that calculations reflecting discussions of OECD (2013), the current level of GDP published the OECD Task Force in relation to National Accounts in 2010 could be revised upward the approach of FISIM were reported. at a Glance 2013, by around 4%. This results mainly In this regard, Ung Wai Keong, of OECD Publishing. from changing the methodological the Macao Statistics and Census approach for R&D and military Service, explained his country’s equipment expenditure. In SNA93 experience in introducing FISIM. these were classified as a temporary expense but for SNA08 they are In external transactions, Gulab www.oecd.org/std/na/ considered as an investment. Singh (UNSD) and the Bank of nationalaccountsataglance.htm Korea respectively presented the The survey results for the 46 Asia- adjustment of the SNA08 and 6th Database: http://stats.oecd.org/ Pacific nations in regards to their Balance of Payment Manual and on Index.aspx?DataSetCode=NAAG SNA08 implementation status the effect of changing the method to showed that many countries have handle processing trade. Meanwhile, National Accounts at a Glance is compiled annual production and the Bank of Korea brought up the designed to present the national expenditure figures. However, it inconsistency problem between accounts in a way that reflects the was disclosed that these countries international standards with regard to richness inherent in the data and are currently not in a position to the valuation of imports and exports the value it represents for analysts compile quarterly statistics or of goods. This elicited a sympathetic and policymakers. It responds detailed breakdowns. According to response and the issue is expected to the Stiglitz Commission's the six-stage classification of the to be placed on the agenda in related recommendation that policymakers Intersecretariat Working Group on meetings. look beyond just GDP when they National Accounts (ISWGNA), most assess material well-being of citizens. of these countries are still between In another related session stages 1 and 2. concerning the national balance In particular it uses national accounts sheet, which is on course to be data to show important findings In other sessions during the seminar, compiled soon in Korea, an expert about households and governments, Korea and some of the other Asia- from the Bank of Korea presented including important series on Pacific nations introduced their on the depreciation concept in gross adjusted household income experiences of the effect of changes economic accounting, the estimation and non-financial fixed assets of in the new national accounts method of capital services and households, and among others, on standards on GDP and in particular the current status regarding the general government expenditures by in relation to real, financial and method of handling head offices function. foreign transactions in bringing in and holding companies based on the SNA08 agenda. the new international standards. The publication is broken down Daniel Clarke (UNESCAP) provided into six key chapters, and provides In the real sector, it was expected an introduction to “the system for indicators related to GDP, income, that changing the approach to R&D integrated environmental-economic expenditure, production, government and military equipment expenditure accounting”, a manual which has just and capital respectively. would have a relatively large influence recently been compiled. on the total value of GDP in Korea. Each of the series is presented on a Meanwhile, Ka Wai Ma, of the Meanwhile, in association with this two-page spread, with the page on Hong Kong Census and Statistics seminar, Bank of Korea conducted a the left providing information on the Department, introduced the example training program, jointly with UNSIAP, meaning, usage, and comparability of Hong Kong. The focus was mostly for implementation of SNA08 from of the data and the page on the right on the approach in handling of September 11 to 15. The program presenting data from 1998 onwards R&D and the ownership of external was targeted for employees from for the OECD countries as well as transactions. Asia-Pacific countries in charge of graphics highlighting differences producing their national accounts. among countries. Issue No. 58, February 2013 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 19

publications Recent publications

Economic Policy Reforms 2013 Going for Growth Going for Growth is the OECD’s annual report highlighting developments in structural poli- cies in OECD countries. It identifies structural reform priorities to boost real income for each OECD country and key emerging economies (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa). The Going for Growth analysis also regularly takes stock of reform implementa- tion in all the countries covered.

This report provides internationally comparable indicators that enable countries to assess their economic performance and structural policies in a wide range of areas. Each issue also has several thematic studies.

OECD (2013), Economic Policy Reforms 2013: Going for Growth, OECD Publishing. www.oecd.org/economy/going-for-growth-2013.htm

Latin American Economic Outlook 2013 SME Policies for Structural Change The Latin American Economic Outlook 2013 examines the medium-term challenges that the region faces in the light of shifting global conditions, and highlights the potential for SMEs to play a greater role in fostering growth and structural change. This report underscores the need for a more integrated approach to SME policy which takes into account the greater pro- ductive context in which firms are embedded, as well as ensuring coherence across policy areas such as SME financing, innovation and human capital development.

OECD/Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (2013), Latin American Economic Outlook 2013: SME Policies for Structural Change, OECD Publishing. www.latameconomy.org/en/

Settling In: OECD Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2012

This publication presents, for the first time, a comprehensive international comparison across OECD countries of the economic and social integration outcomes for immigrants and their children, together with a broad range of contextual information. It aims at giving an initial point of comparison, in the perspective of a regular monitoring of comparable indicators of integration across OECD countries.

OECD (2012), Settling In: OECD Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2012, OECD Publishing. www.oecd.org/migration/integrationindicators/ 20 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 58, February 2013

Agenda Forthcoming meetings

OECD Date Meeting 28 February 2013 Committee on Statistics (CSTAT) Bureau meeting, OECD Committee on Statistics (CSTAT). New York, United States 28 February-1 March Expert Group on Pesticide Risk Indicators (EGPRI), Working Group on Pesticides. OECD 2013 Environment Directorate, OECD Paris, France 1-11 March 2013 Energy Statistics Training. International Energy Agency (IEA), Standing Group for Global Energy Dialogue. IEA, Paris, France 4-8 March 2013 Nuclear Data for Science and Technology (ND2013), US National Nuclear Data Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Nuclear Energy Agency. New York, United States www.oecd-nea.org/general/conferences/conferences-2013.html 11-13 March 2013 Working Party on Indicators of Educational Systems (INES), OECD Directorate for Education and Skills. OECD Paris, France 19-21 March 2013 Working Group on International Investment Statistics (WGIIS), Investment Committee. OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, OECD, Paris, France 5 April 2013 OECD Statistics Day, as part of the "International Year of Statistics". OECD, Paris, France www.oecd.org/statistics/statistics2013attheoecd.htm 17-19 March 2013 Working Party of National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators (NESTI). OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry. OECD, Paris, France 23-24 April 2013 Energy Statistics Co-operation, International Energy Agency (IEA). IEA, Paris, France

23-25 April 2013 Meeting of the joint UNECE/Eurostat/OECD Group on the Management of Statistical Information Systems (MSIS), OECD Statistics Directorate. OECD, Paris, France www.unece.org/stats/documents/2013.04.msis.html

24 April 2013 OECD/BIAC Workshop: Green Growth in the Agro-Food Chain: What Role for the Private Sector? OECD, Paris, France www.oecd.org/tad/sustainable-agriculture/workshop-greengrowth-agrofood-privatesector.htm 16-17 May 2013 Health Care Quality Indicators (HCQI) Expert Group, Health Committee, OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs. OECD, Paris, France 21-23 May 2013 Working Party No. 2 on Tax Policy Analysis and Tax Statistics, OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs. OECD, Paris, France 22-24 May 2013 "Funding Transport" - International Transport Forum’s 2013 Summit. Leipzig, Germany www.internationaltransportforum.org/ 27-31 May 2013 OECD Annual Forum and Council Ministerial Meetings. OECD, Paris, France www.oecd.org/forum/ 12-14 June 2013 OECD Committee on Statistics (CSTAT) - 10th Session, OECD Statistics Directorate. Geneva, Switzerland 17 June 2013 Bureau Meeting: 25th Session of the Working Party on Territorial Indicators, OECD Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate. OECD, Paris, France

Other meetings 8-9 April 2013 International Labour Organization’s European regional meeting. Oslo, Norway

19-21 April 2013 and International Monetary Fund Spring meetings. Washington D.C., United States www.imf.org/external/am/index.htm

Unless otherwise indicated attendance at OECD meetings and working parties is by invitation only. The Statistics Newsletter for the extended OECD statistical network Issue 58 - February 2013

www.oecd.org/std/statisticsnewsletter