Modernisation of Statistical Production in Switzerland: End of a Long Journey in Sight by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office

The Statistics Newsletter for the extended OECD statistical network

Issue No. 53, September 2011 www.oecd.org/std/statisticsnewsletter

The Case of the Missing Tax Data by Statistics Netherlands

Current Price Topics: The Impact of The European Debt Crisis on U.S. Import Prices by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics

IN THEOECD LIGHT Nuclear OF FUKUSHIMAEnergy Agency GENESIS-ONLINEof Germany NUCLEAR ENERGY: FUTUREThe FederalDEVELOPMENTS Statistical Office 2 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

Contents

3 Modernisation of statistical production in Switzerland: end of a long journey in sight Jürg Marti, Director General, Sébastien Morard, International relations coordinator

6 The case of missing tax data Arnout van Delden, Sander Scholtus, Peter-Paul de Wolf, Statistics Netherlands

8 GENESIS-Online: The Internet-Database of the Federal Statistical Office of Germany Dr. Claudia Fleck, Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)

12 Turkish Statistical Institute: Strategic Plan Nilgün Dorsan, Head of Strategy Development Department, Turkish Statistical Institute

16 Current Price Topics: The Impact of the European Debt Crisis on U.S. Import Prices Sergei Shev, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

17 Nuclear Energy: Future Developments in the light of Fukushima Serge Gas, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

19 Recent publications

20 Forthcoming meetings

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Deadline for articles for the next issue: 31st October 2011 Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office Modernisation of statistical production in Switzerland: end of a long journey in sight

Jürg Marti, Director General, Sébastien Morard, International relations coordinator

he Swiss Federal Statistical purposes. The population Office (FSO) embarked a registers are now interlinked Tfew years ago on a series of and constantly updated via complex modernisation programmes, a central exchange platform mainly with the objective of bringing managed by the FSO. more consistency and efficiency to the production of statistics. The efficiency of a modern statistical information system depends to a These projects mainly concern the large extent on the way data are “data collection” and “process” collected. Two main programmes are parts of the statistical business currently being implemented. They process, but their aim is clearly bring a coordinated vision to the two to allow for a more integrated main domains of data collection: approach to statistics, and to promote consistency in the results. •• Business statistics: the general They are in line with the international programme for business consensus on abandoning the statistics is a comprehensive “stove-pipe approach” of statistics, reform of the various business whereby surveys are designed and statistics which involves implemented as separate projects, checking the demand, using and their results analysed and administrative data as much disseminated independently. as possible and updating methodologies according to The main expectation of this EU regulations. investment by the Federal Statistical Office is to reduce the burden on •• Social statistics: the system users, as well as the costs of data of household and personal Four parallel projects collection. It is of course expected to statistics is taking shape. progressively facilitate the analysis The central element is a new, of results, thus making it possible to The pillars of the modernisation register-based census. respond to the increasing demand for are two projects that completely information, including on transversal refurbish the statistical infrastructure: Most of these programmes are themes such as the Progress and coming to an end as they enter the Quality of Life agenda, or the green •• Realising a universal data production phase, and some initial economy. One of the drivers of warehouse for the storage and conclusions can be drawn. It is, change is the bilateral agreement processing of the data. however, important to note that these with the EU whereby Switzerland is programmes are interdependent integrated in most data collections •• Harmonising the main registers and that they are implemented in of the European Statistical System managed by various levels of parallel. In this article, we briefly (Eurostat). Another important driver the federal government system; explain the changes in the statistical is the pressure to produce ever more population registers updated infrastructure and illustrate their at constant costs. by municipalities, registers expected outcome in the field of of buildings and dwellings, social statistics. business register. The office manages several main registers that are used for statistical 4 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

A new statistical infrastructure •• several parts of the business control on the use of the data process are automated. exchange system. It also validates The office is currently putting in the data deliveries and prescribes place a single business architecture Harmonising the registers & the quality thresholds. for standardising the main tools, new system of social statistics processes and software used in-house for the production of The FSO decided to profoundly The new census: an integrated survey system statistics. Putting in place a central change its most core task: the Data Warehouse is the key part of the population census, by moving from a project. A central data warehouse 10-yearly census to an annual census Structural Register Survey makes data more usable and makes based on administrative registers Survey it possible to work with a sustainable and completed by various integrated IT structure. All statistics will benefit surveys. This is a long-term project Thematic Omnibus from standardised methods, that started around 2004 and was Survey processes and software. The project effectively launched in 2007 when also aims at automating parts of the the new census law entered in force. dissemination process, so as to With the publication in August 2011 The first reflections on the new more easily publish various outputs of the final demographic figures, we census date back to 2004. The for different audiences. The system can now affirm that the system is core element of the new census is a caters to the dissemination in SDMX fully functional. register-based survey. This register- format, and includes a sustainable based survey makes it possible to system for archiving data at different A similar step had already been taken obtain very timely population data stages of production. in some other OECD countries. In a four times a year, including: federal state such as Switzerland, This is the most inward-looking part being able to extract the basic •• demographic characteristics of the modernisation process. The demographic characteristics of implementation part started in 2009 the whole population required •• data on buildings and dwellings and all new statistics will be using first putting in place a complex broken down by number of the new system at the end of 2011. It infrastructure. Indeed, the first task dwellings, number of rooms, is also a daunting task: the success was to connect the civil registers etc. of the other programmes and of new independently run by the regional projects strongly depends on the entities (cantons) and of some 2500 •• geographic characteristics successful realisation of this part. communes. The FSO headed the Moreover, developing standard project. The core elements were i) a But the main feature of the new applications goes much further than dedicated law which determines a list Swiss census is that it is designed building a data warehouse, because of basic characteristics and requests to exploit in the most coherent it changes the processes already in the FSO to define the underlying possible way the various sources of place, and ultimately the daily work classifications; ii) a new social social statistics. The system, known of statisticians. But the benefits in security identifier; iii) the linkages as SHAPE, therefore integrates: terms of standardising production with the register of buildings and a large-scale survey, a thematic are clear: dwellings (this register allows inter survey, flexible short-term surveys alia to geo-localise the dwelling) and (Omnibus) and traditional social •• by reducing the number is also an important new project in surveys. of parallel systems and cooperation with the postal service standardising definitions there that involved the attribution of an The structural survey is more transparency and data identifier to each dwelling; and iv) complements the basic data by a that is re-used for various putting in place an IT platform for written questionnaire distributed analyses. There is also a clearer the regular exchange of data that each year to a sample representing idea of the quality of data. allows for a 4-yearly standardised 2.7% of the resident population transmission of data to the Federal (200 000 persons). The domains •• avoiding as much as possible Statistical Office (the cantons and investigated in the 33 questions overlaps in data collection communes used to keep different are: households, families, housing, should eliminate a ineffective kinds of registers, including paper employment, mobility, education, part of the burden on ones), with a sufficient level of language and religion. Results can respondents. confidentiality. The FSO retains be disaggregated down to the level Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 5

of cantons and communes with more very satisfying. The register-based projects mentioned above, a new, than 15 000 inhabitants. Results for solution is clearly a qualitative leap more coherent statistical system up to 5 years can be aggregated, as compared to the previous system with the FSO at its centre is taking thus making it possible to produce (precise population data every 10 shape. The main successes we had data for even smaller geographical years and estimates in between). concern the quality of the data. The entities. It allows for more timeliness and main challenges we faced were frequency. The results of the first institutional and IT ones. The yearly thematic survey is a structural survey will be made sample survey of at least 10 000 available at the end of the year. In We believe that the multi-modal persons that facilitates a detailed terms of timeliness they compare integrated solution is a reasonable and in-depth exploration of certain very favourably. As far as quality is compromise between burden, areas (Education, Mobility, Health, concerned, it looks very promising: costs and the provision of relevant etc). It is expected that the themes the response rate is about 90%, and statistical information. Combining will be repeated every 5 years most respondents answered all the different modes (registers, mail, in order to ensure a follow-up of questions. The e-survey solution in e-survey, CATI) for different purposes social trends. This will typically particular yields considerable gains proved a good strategy. For a small be an important source for OECD in quality and productivity. statistical office in a small country, thematic databases. Last year’s this may be the only way to keep on survey on mobility was a CATI-survey Designing the new system involved producing information on all societal on mobility on 60 000 persons, which tough choices on what to keep and aspects with regional breakdowns will for example provide crucial data what to leave behind. It is also a where necessary. It will also enable for urban planning. This year the FSO considerable long-term investment us to reallocate resources in order to will implement the Adult Education that will reduce costs in the long produce more analysis work. Survey, a European Statistical run. In combination with the other System -wide survey on skills and lifelong learning.

The third element, Omnibus, is For its 150th anniversary in 2010, the FSO presented on its website designed to follow-up on specific some historical material, including an interactive timeline (Chronostat) themes, and to provide results that puts in perspective the landmark events of national history and within 6 months. It is a telephone various statistical publications from different periods. Also, publications sample survey of 3 000 persons. It related to the first federal census in 1850 up to the state-of-the-art has recently been used to provide solutions are described on the historical section of our website. data on the information society. The selection process is inclusive and Links: demand-based: the FSO determines the themes of national importance An interactive presentation of the new census: for the Omnibus surveys in close www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/news/02.html cooperation with stakeholders. The latest Omnibus on sport and Calendar: physical activities was for example www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/news/02/01.html commissioned by the Ministry of Health. In 2011, the environmental Historical section (F/D): behaviour of households will be www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/150/13.html explored, including subjective issues that feed into the quality of life agenda. Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confédération suisse The system is complemented by the Confederazione Svizzera main international social surveys: Confederaziun svizra LFS, SILC, HBS.

This complex system is still taking www.bfs.admin.ch shape. In comparison with the traditional census, the first results are 6 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

Statistics Netherlands THE CASE OF THE MISSING TAX DATA

Arnout van Delden, Sander Scholtus, Peter-Paul de Wolf, Statistics Netherlands

The views expressed in this article SN decided to stop its primary data economic sectors, it was clear are those of the authors and do not collection again. that the governmental tax relief necessarily reflect the policies of measure might adversely influence Statistics Netherlands. This article Background the statistical properties of the describes the controversy that arose tax declaration data. In particular, between Statistics Netherlands and In April 2009 the State Secretary of businesses that kept reporting on a the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs Finance announced that, starting monthly basis might differ in some in 2009 after the announcement of July 1st of that year, most Dutch important respects from businesses a tax relief measure for businesses, businesses would be allowed to that switch to reporting on a quarterly which deteriorated the quality of tax choose to declare tax on a monthly basis. For instance, businesses that data used by Statistics Netherlands for or quarterly basis. Until then, Dutch are expecting a tax refund are more producing short-term statistics. businesses had been assigned to a likely to report monthly than quarterly, reporting cycle by the tax authorities, and vice versa. This means that based on an estimate of their tax due when businesses have been given to be paid: the largest businesses had the option to switch reporting cycles, Introduction to declare tax every month, smaller the monthly tax return data might businesses only every quarter. The pertain to a selective subpopulation ike most national statistical intention of this measure was to boost of businesses, so that monthly institutes in recent years, the economy, by giving businesses growth figures based on this data LStatistics Netherlands (SN) an opportunity to select the reporting might no longer be representative has been replacing its primary frequency most attractive to them for the development of the Dutch data collection (i.e. questionnaires) from a fiscal point of view. economy. more and more with externally sourced administrative data. The announcement by the It soon became clear that the measure Since 2003, as part of a larger State Secretary of Finance came as a would be executed by the government governmental operation aimed at surprise to SN, and sparked off some with no room for modifications. SN reducing administrative burden on commotion. In the spring of 2009, the therefore decided that the new Dutch businesses, SN is by law SN economic statistics division was production process for short-term only allowed to collect data for about to complete a long-running statistics would not be implemented statistical production by means redesign of the production process until the effects of the measure had of questionnaires if no suitable for short-term statistics. For small been examined. Moreover, it was administrative sources are available. and medium-sized businesses, decided to re-introduce primary data administrative data from the tax collection for monthly statistics of the This article describes a series of authorities were supposed to building industry and international events that occurred in 2009 after replace traditional survey data. In trade, starting with reference month a tax relief measure for businesses fact, short-term statistics on the June 2009, to safeguard the quality was announced that impacted on the building industry and international of the statistical output. A random usability of tax data for producing trade had already been partly based sample of 10,000 businesses would short-term statistics. SN felt that on tax data for some time. For the be drawn each month, to assess the primary data collection had to be building industry, the use of tax data quality of the tax data after some re-introduced in some economic had replaced primary data collection businesses had switched from sectors, in order to produce among small businesses with less monthly to quarterly reporting. This statistical output of sufficient quality. than ten employed persons. represented 7,700 small businesses This led to a controversy between from the building industry and 2,300 the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Since short-term statistics are businesses from the international SN, which was finally resolved when published every month for some trade sector. Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 7

On April 28, a Dutch newspaper ran a reporting. The economic statistics that a sample of 5,000 businesses story on the planned re-introduction division used this list to conduct a would actually lead to similar of questionnaires in the building simulation study, recompiling growth confidence intervals if stratification industry and the international trade statistics for previous months under was used. In the absence of actual sector, under the headline “New pile the assumption that the businesses data, model assumptions were used of paperwork for entrepreneurs”. As on the list had stopped reporting on to obtain this result. a result, on May 1st, two members a monthly basis at an earlier time, of parliament submitted formal and comparing the resulting figures By July, only about 2,000 businesses questions to the State Secretaries to those that were obtained using all in the building industry had used the of Finance and Economic Affairs, available data. option of switching from monthly querying the need for SN to to quarterly reporting to the tax re-introduce data collection by No particularly large deviations were authorities. The reason why the means of questionnaires. These found, but SN hesitated to draw sample sizes were much larger questions were answered in writing conclusions as: than the number of businesses that on May 27. actually changed their reporting a. the development of the Dutch cycle – which puzzled some The first questionnaires were sent to economy in the simulation period members of parliament – is that SN businesses in the building industry was atypical, since it coincided chose to draw a sample from the and the international trade sector with a phase of stagnation and population of all businesses, rather in mid-July, asking respondents recession following the global than a sample of businesses that to report their turnover for June financial crisis; had decided to switch. In principle, 2009. This event led to additional b. only a small number of it would have been sufficient to questions in parliament, submitted businesses had switched so far, conduct primary data collection only to the State Secretaries of Finance but this number might become among businesses that had switched and Economic Affairs on July much larger in the following to reporting on a quarterly basis, 22. In particular, members of months; and, since tax data were still available for parliament complained that 10,000 c. there was no objective criterion businesses that had not switched. questionnaires was large compared to decide how large a deviation This option was also considered in to the number of businesses that had would be acceptable. the methodological report. However, switched from monthly to quarterly it turned out that the tax authorities reporting at that moment (about By early September, data from could not provide SN with an 55,000 across all sectors). During questionnaire data for months of updated list of businesses that had consultations between SN and the June and July had been collected and switched in time for SN to use it as two governmental departments edited at SN, and the methodology a sampling frame. about these questions, some department was asked to analyse pressure was put on SN to stop its the data, to help decide whether The initiative for writing the report on primary data collection. primary data collection remained the sample design was taken by the necessary. methodology department itself. Its Meanwhile, SN was looking into suggestions were not implemented the effects of the tax relief measure Research by the methodology in practice. on the statistical quality of the tax department data. This research was done for Data analysis both the building industry and the In September, the economic international trade sector; in the Sample design statistics division asked the remainder of this article the focus In July 2009, three methodologists methodology department to analyse is on the building industry. Early wrote a report that explored whether primary data collection in efforts at assessing the effects of possibilities of drawing a smaller the building industry was necessary, the measure suffered from a lack of sample of businesses from the or whether the quality of the tax data available data. building industry. The original design was sufficient to produce short-term (a simple random sample of 7,700 statistics. For this analysis, edited On June 19, after much insistence, businesses) had been previously questionnaire and tax data on the the tax authorities provided SN adopted by the economic statistics reference months June and July were with a list of all businesses in the division without consulting the available. By this time, the Ministry building industry that had applied methodology department. In the of Economic Affairs was putting to switch from monthly to quarterly report, the methodologists showed a lot of pressure on SN to either 8 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

stop primary data collection in the businesses that used the option to Destatis building industry, or else come up switch increased considerably. with concrete evidence that primary GENESIS-Online: data collection was necessary. The outcome For this reason, the methodology Following the methodological The Internet- department was given just over two analysis described, SN decided Database of weeks to complete their analysis. to stop primary data collection in the building industry starting the Federal In their research, the methodologists with the reference month October used tax data and questionnaire data 2009. Primary data collection in the Statistical Office to compute two separate estimates international trade sector had already of Germany of turnover development in the ended, following analyses by the building industry between June methodology department and the Dr. Claudia Fleck, Federal Statistical and July 2009. Since the estimate economic statistics division. Office of Germany (Destatis) based on the questionnaire data was (asymptotically) unbiased, it could Before sending the reports of the be used to assess the magnitude of methodological analyses to the bias in the tax data estimate, due to Ministry of Economic Affairs, SN ENESIS – «GEmeinsames a selective switching from monthly to asked two consultants from the NEues Statistisches quarterly reporting. An approximate RAND Institute to validate the findings GInformationsSystem» 95% confidence interval was also in these reports. This was an initiative («Common new statistical computed for the growth estimate of the director of the economic information system») – is a database based on questionnaire data. It statistics division, to forestall the that has been developed together was decided that the bias in the tax Ministry’s call for an independent by the Federal Statistical Office of data estimate would be considered enquiry into the matter. The validated Germany and the statistical offices significant if this estimate fell outside reports were subsequently sent of the German Laender in order to the 95% confidence interval of the to the Ministry, along with the achieve a common data-warehouse questionnaire data estimate. announcement that SN intended for statistical information. In the end to stop using questionnaires in the the federal structure of the statistics The results of the analysis were building industry and international system has led to decentralised not clear-cut, as there were some trade sector as a primary data databases with the same look and indications that the questionnaire source. feel. Depending on the Statistical data suffered from bias due to Office that runs the information non-response. It was concluded, After this announcement, there system, it can offer aggregated data however, that the analysis had not followed some controversy between or detailed regional structure data. revealed a substantial bias in the the Ministry of Economic Affairs and estimate based on tax data, and SN about the precise formulation The Federal Statistical Office of hence that it could not be used to of a response to questions from Germany (Destatis) developed show that primary data collection parliament of July 22, which still GENESIS-Online (https://www- was necessary. remained to be answered. Formal genesis.destatis.de) to give web- answers to these questions were based access the internal production In a report that was completed on finally delivered in writing to system. The aim of GENESIS-Online September 25, the methodology parliament by the State Secretary was and still is to provide an easy and department advised SN to continue of Economic Affairs, on December 4. comfortable way to access the wide primary data collection for two By that time, the interest of members range of German official statistics more months, so that a full quarter of parliament in the matter had offered via the internet. With the of questionnaire data would be subsided, as SN had already ended launch of GENESIS-Online in July available for subsequent analyses. the data collecting activities that 2002 the Federal Statistical Office Assuming that these analyses would concerned them. made another contribution to the not lead to a different conclusion, governments’ initiatives “BundOnline primary data collection could be 2005” and «Deutschland online» stopped after that period, although and thus increased the quality of its it might become necessary to information service. start sending out questionnaires Statistics Netherlands again in the future, if the number of www.cbs.nl Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 9

Data model and functional With the value retrieval the defi ned 6. Prices, earnings, income, scope table structure is then fi lled with the consumption expenditure numerical data that is stored in one 7. Public fi nances GENESIS-Online is mainly or more data cubes. 8. Economic accounts characterised by metadata based 9. Indicator systems research and friendly table retrieval. GENESIS-Online offers different The data-model of GENESIS-Online ways to extract tables. One way Every single statistic is linked with is the so-called ‘cube-model’, i.e. of searching is to click through a tables, data cubes and variables the numerical data are stored in hierarchy of nine subject areas that that belong to it. Further information multidimensional data objects (data leads to the statistics step by step. on methodology and quality of the cubes) that are described by the The subject areas are classifi ed as statistic is offered as well. metadata. Each data cube refers to follows: exactly one statistic and is defi ned Another kind of database query is by variables that determine content, 1. Territory, population, labour the search by keyword that directly time, region and other classifying market, elections provides a list of corresponding attributes. The connection of the 2. Education, social security tables. The basis of the keyword numerical data with the describing benefi ts, health, justice search is a thesaurus which contains information (metadata) is the basis 3. Housing, environment all the terms and expressions used in for the exploration of the database. 4. Economic sectors the stored metadata. The thesaurus In order to retrieve the numerical data 5. Foreign trade, enterprises, is constantly being updated and a table structure has to be defi ned crafts improved by adding new terms. on the basis of the metadata fi rst.

Figure 1. Table, histogram and map Bevölkerungsdichte: Bundesländer, stichtag Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes Bevölkerungsdichte (EW je qkm)

Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes Bevölkerungsdichte (EW je qkm)

Stichtag Bundesländer 31.12.2009

Baden-Württemberg 301

Bayern 177

Berlin 3861

Brandenburg 85

Bremen 1637 Bevölkerungsdichte: Bundesländer, stichtag Hamburg 2349 Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes Bevölkerungsdichte (EW je qkm) 31.12.2009 Hessen 287

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 71

Niedersachsen 166

Nordrhein-Westfalen 524

Rheinland-Pfalz 202

Saarland 398

Sachsen 226

Sachsen-Anhalt 115

Schleswig-Holstein 179

Thüringen 139 10 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

Finally catalogues of tables, variables corresponding tables for fast access. concept were that the number of and data cubes give an overview and The user can also receive this users remained constant. provide the possibility to select and information via a «RSS-Newsfeed» . sort the objects. Data for free – A success story? E-Commerce period The idea of GENESIS-Online is Following the free data paradigm to present the numerical data via When GENESIS-Online was released shift in Eurostat, in October 2008 changeable table structures; i.e. in July 2002 numerous users the pricing model of Destatis users can select reference periods tested the system free of charge GENESIS-Online was adjusted to and attributes of variables such as and provided useful details and a new communication strategy that single branches of economic activity needs. The different requirements led to free dissemination. All users or Laender. The tables retrieved can of several groups of users led to now have free access to all tables be stored in Excel, CSV and HTML the development of new functions in GENESIS-Online. Users have to formats (download) for further use. and to the introduction of the first register and login only if they want Frequently required and individually pricing model in January 2004 that to benefit from special personalised adjusted table structures can even offered three ways of accessing database functions («My tables» etc.) be stored in GENESIS-Online under the database: as a guest, a client which still carry a charge. «My tables». To visualize the data or a premium client. A guest could interactive diagrams and maps are research the whole database but The new dissemination strategy was available (see figure 1). retrieve only a choice of tables that a complete success. It led instantly were offered free of charge. For to an increase in visits and table GENESIS-Online also offers direct 50 EUR a year, registered clients retrievals. From the third to the fourth access to the data cubes. A special had access to the entire set of quarter of 2008 the database visits function allows it to present the tables and additional functions doubled from 88 thousand to 178 data cube in a standardised time were available: time series-oriented thousand and the table retrievals series-oriented table layout. The tabular presentation of data cubes, increased from 79 to 132 thousand. data cube can also be exported in storing table structures or time In 2010 the number of table retrievals a linearised format and is therefore series specifications in the user’s exceeded the 1 million threshold (see suited for professional processing. own directory («My tables» / «My figure 2). GENESIS Web-services make time series»), bulk downloads. For certain GENESIS-Online functions 500 EUR a year, registered so-called The favourable development of even accessible for automated premium clients could additionally the utilisation of the database was processing. download the data cubes in a also influenced by a few other linearised export format and get 10 measures. First, the scope of data The system architecture of GENESIS user-IDs. The premium access was offered in GENESIS-Online has allows the system to publish data primarily intended for business and been continuously enlarged. In July on the internet most efficiently institutions who want to process 2002 it started with 650,000 values and on time. The starting page of the data from Destatis in their own from 58 statistics and by the end of GENESIS-Online informs of the systems for their own purposes. The 2010, GENESIS-Online provided 200 daily updates with linkage to the consequences of this marketing million values out of 184 statistics. The hit lists are headed by price Figure 2. GENESIS-Online: Table retrievals per year statistics, especially the «Consumer price index for Germany» and the

1200000 «Index of producer prices for industrial products». The statistics 1000000 on foreign trade, population and National Accounts are also of 800000 particular interest to users.

600000 Secondly, the functions of the Since October 2008 all tables are free of charge 400000 database have been continuously updated and improved taking into 200000 account the needs of users. New

0 navigation and search features 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 were released and visualisation Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 11

Figure 3. Structure of the registered GENESIS-Online users in May 2011

Business Clients Media Premium clients Business Politics and administration Media 1% 3% 1% Information providers Politics and administration Parties, associations, churches Information providers Private individuals 11% 20% Parties, associations, churches 3% Education, science, culture 2% Other Education, science, culture 37% 1% Unknown Other 6% 9%

61% 12% 1% 10%

22% tools were added. Web-services Figure 3 gives an up-to-date insight is provided by a special database were introduced making certain on the different categories of «GENESIS-Online Regional» GENESIS-Online functions registered GENESIS-Online users. offering data on the regional accessible for automated processing Most clients and premium clients levels of administrative districts for registered clients. Further came from Business, followed by and municipalities. In the future improvements included the inter- Media, Education, Science, and the scope of data offered in linkage of the database and the Culture. GENESIS-Online will be continuously website www.destatis.de by using enlarged and further improvements GENESIS-Online as the single Final remarks of the GENESIS-Online software will source of data output. make access to the data more and With GENESIS-Online the Federal more user-friendly. Typology of clients Statistical Offi ce of Germany offers a powerful information system Recently, GENESIS-Online has The introduction of all GENESIS- that satisfies all user needs: gained a new rating as a supplier of Online tables being freely availability from professionals to interested «open data». The web-services offer since October 2008, resulted in laymen. The central database is open access to the data and free only a small fall in the number of maintained by Destatis and mainly dissemination is combined with an registered clients (from 3390 at provides data for the Federation as open licensing model of the Creative the end of 2007 to 2955 at the end a whole and regional data on the Commons sort. That is what makes of 2010). However, the number of Laender level. Central access to a Destatis a pioneer in the German premium clients increased (from 55 harmonised stock of common data open data movement. to 69). at the Federation and the Laender

Two years after the Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Report: What well-being and sustainibility measures?

two years after the stiglitz-sen-Fitoussi Commission’s recommendations, the French national institute for statistics and economic studies (insee), the French Ministry for the economy, Finance and industry and the oeCd, are organising a conference to take stock of current initiatives and reﬂ ections at national and international levels to measure progress and sustainability.

The conference will take place on the 12 October 2011 and will be opened by angel gurría, oeCd secretary-general and nobel prize winner in economics, joseph e. stiglitz. the conference will be closed by François baroin, Minister for the economy, Finance and industry.

the conference will bring together statisticians and policy makers. please note that this conference is by invitation only.

Link: stiglitz-sen-Fitoussi 2009 report: www.stiglitz-sen-ﬁ toussi.fr/documents/rapport_anglais.pdf 12 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

Turkish Statistical InsTItute Turkish Statistical Institute: Strategic Plan

Nilgün Dorsan, Head of Strategy Development Department, Turkish Statistical Institute

Evaluation: Strategic Plan public administrations to prepare TurkStat vision (2007-2011) performance based budgets in accordance with their mission, “To become the information he Turkish Statistical Institute vision, strategic goals and objectives. administrator of the country in the (TurkStat), entrenched in the Briefly, this law brings into effect a field of official statistics”. Testablishment of the Register circular structure based on strategic Office (Defterhane) in 1389, has planning, performance based In accordance with the goals and undergone important changes since budgeting and activity reports. objectives determined in parallel 1926. TurkStat plays a crucial role with the mission and the vision, in the country’s decision-making TurkStat Strategic Planning planning has been undertaken to processes, with the objective to Practices determine areas which need to be increase its scientific and technical improved using the current internal level to meet the information age In line with this vision, it is vital and external resource allocation requirements and to continuously that TurkStat keeps up to date effectively. The TurkStat Strategic improve Turkey’s statistical system. with progress in the world’s Plan 2007-2011 has 9 strategic goals With the enactment of the Turkish statistical community. On the and 121 strategic objectives. Each Statistical Law (Law no: 5429) other hand, reflecting national strategic objective was planned to in 2005, TurkStat, in the role of and international developments, be implemented for different years coordinator for official statistics, is needs and expectations have in the five year period, aiming for charged with producing comparable increased in the field of statistics the success of the strategic plan as statistics through improvement and but resources have remained limited. a whole and realising all objectives integration of the statistical system Therefore, to determine priorities at the end of the planning period in by following the latest developments, and perform efficient institutional 2011. Table 1 outlines the various standards and definitions in the resource planning and increase strategic objectives by strategic international statistical arena. productivity, strategic management goals. and planning has to become not Legal Base a choice but an obligation for the Monitoring and Evaluation of the institution. TurkStat which is aiming Strategic Plan Various reform activities have been to produce more accurate, up-to- initiated and important regulations date, coherent, comparable and Evaluation and monitoring are strong have been enacted to ensure more accessible information has led the tools to measure the performance of rational usage of public resources, adoption in principle of the strategic the strategic plan, advantages being: based on accountability and financial planning notion, as one of the eight transparency within the framework pilot institutions to first implement •• Performance evaluation of improving public financial strategic plans in Turkey. ›› Strengthening decision making management in Turkey. processes ›› Taking decisions accurately TurkStat mission With the enforcement of the Public ›› Preparing improvement plans Financial Management and Control “With the aim of presenting economic and institutional learning Law (Law no: 5018), named as “public and social structure of the country, ›› Efficient and productive usage reform”, public administrations were to produce and disseminate quality of the resources urged to prepare strategic plans, statistics which are timely, reliable, ›› Development of institutional performance programs interrelated objective and truly compliant with policies and strategies with those strategic plans, and international standards to respond to ›› Comparing “planned” and yearly activity reports which are the expectations of decision makers, “realised” issues based on performance results. It researchers and other users”. has also become mandatory for Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 13

Table 1. Dispersion and number of strategic objectives by strategic goals

Number of strategic objectives Dispersion of Strategic objectives (%) Goal 1. Adopting New Methodologies and Producing 44 36.5 New Statistics and Indicators Goal 2. Improving Content of Surveys and Increasing 30 24.8 Data Variety Goal 3. Realising Improvements Related to 7 5.8 Compilation and Timeliness of Data Goal 4. Improving Data Quality 9 7.4

Goal 5. Improving Register and Information Systems 5 4.1

Goal 6. Decreasing Response Burden 2 1.7 Goal 7. Improving the Role of the Institution in the 6 5.0 Field of Statistics Goal 8. Strengthening the Technical Capacity and 11 9.1 Technological Infrastructure Goal 9. Increasing Use of Statistics in the Public and 7 5.8 Facilitating Access to Data Total 121 100

•• Performance monitoring at the end of 2007. An extensive Primarily 2008, 2009, and 2010 were ›› Detection of the realisation of effort was made beginning in 2008 years where statistical activities strategic goals and objectives to get a greater success ratio, and were executed within the context ›› Monitoring performance at the end of the 2007-2010 period, a of determined plans and programs deviations and their reasons 53.7% success ratio was recorded. and monitored and evaluated in a ›› Determination of the realisation The 2007-2009 period was negatively systematic way. level of the activities and affected because improvements projects or reasons for holding in administrative data were not Strategic plans are documents off fulfilled; there were problems in towards achieving a vision. To ›› Monitoring the implementation data integration and the 6 strategic reach the TurkStat vision, a series of of the strategic plan objectives were abolished. activities and projects were designed for in the context of determined Taking into account all these issues, At the end of 2011 the success ratio strategic goals and targets during performance monitoring and is expected to be 95% (accounted the planned period. The major evaluation of the TurkStat Strategic for by the 6 eliminated strategic contribution of the plan, apart from Plan was realised and accordingly objectives). Figure 1 shows expected its success within 5 years, is to institutional performance evaluated. and met success strategic plan ratios see what can be managed, what In addition, strategic objectives were for 2007-2011. are the institutional base resource prioritised by years and performance requirements, and finally to be able objectives assigned to each of the Taking a closer look at the situation to make an institutional assessment. strategic objectives. From 2007, of strategic goal completion, it can 4 performance evaluations were be seen (Table 2) that Goal 3, Goal The 2007-2010 period saw a strategic held and the fulfilment, deviations 7 and Goal 9 strategic objectives objectives success ratio of 53.7% and reasons of these deviations were all accomplished and realised (against a planned ratio of 71.1%). were determined. Some care was perfectly on time. However, important work regarding taken to eliminate the reasons for the unrealised strategic objectives failures with uncompleted strategic General Evaluation for has been completed and those objectives placed in the following 2007-2010 Period objectives will now be achieved in performance programs. 2011. Major achievements in this An important starting point for direction with the strategic goals In 2007, because of the transition, the TurkStat was 2007 in which it and objectives are: workload of restructuring activities passed through a period of planning in TurkStat and the infrastructure and for the first time in the Turkish 1. Considerable steps forward deficiencies made it difficult to meet Statistical System history, began were taken in the diversity of strategic objectives at the expected implementation of a strategic plan to TurkStat statistics compiled level. The success ratio was 14% evaluate its institutional performance. to satisfy user needs, increase 14 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

Figure 1. Strategic plan success ratios analysis and dissemination (%) processes were performed. 100 100.0 95.0

80 8. Data control activities were

71.1 expanded to regional offices; 55.4 60 the quality of collected data has 44.6 been improved with the help of 53.7 40 45.5 quality control units in centre 19.8 28.9 and regional offices. 20

14.0

0 9. Software enabling online data 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (expected) entry was developed and

Planned strategic objectives (cumulative) Realised strategic objectives (cumulative) steps were taken to ensure its effective use, institutional work international comparability, and and also to put into practice flows between the centre and bring the statistics into line with statistical classifications, and regional offices have been the appropriate international standards of administrative renovated in line with the definitions and methodologies. registers. determined strategies, and dynamic data/information 2. The EU has provided great 5. Important steps have sharing has been made more assistance to TurkStat through been made in line with the effective through the internet. funding and supporting projects development and improvement Most of the software needed by that update statistical practices of register systems: TurkStat including some of the in the process of compliance to large scale software required, EU standards. a. An “Address Based which will contribute to the Population Register System” e-State project, was developed 3. The important role of coordinator has been developed and within TurkStat. for the organisation of improved in line with the compilation and dissemination administrative register. 10. Strategic plans, performance of Turkish statistics was given Up-to-date information programs and activity reports to TurkStat. In the “Official about size, gender and age have been put into practice as Statistics Program”, the characteristics of population major components of the public institutional role of statistical according to their residence management reform. production coordination was has been collected and strengthened, coordination disseminated. 11. To improve institutional capacity, problems were minimised, major steps towards increasing and major achievements were b. Developments have been human resource management gained in government statistical made in the establishment have been achieved; especially, cooperation. of business and agricultural staff numbers in regional offices enterprise registry systems. have been increased. Education 4. Improvements have been and training programs at the made on training, technical 6. Improvements were made on institutional level have been and methodological support timeliness in data collection realised; major steps towards of all institutions in the Turkish and publication. A “National improving staff competencies Statistical System. A corporate Data Release Calendar” have been taken, and interactive publication and dissemination including all statistics produced educational programs through policy has been formed in order by institutions in the Official web technologies have been to secure the publication and Statistics Program was conducted. dissemination standards of presented to the public and is produced statistics. Knowing updated periodically. 12. In order to meet both national the importance of administrative and international user demand registers, technical support 7. In parallel with the improvement with an effective and dynamic has been provided to other in IT infrastructure of TurkStat, platform, dissemination institutions for strengthening major developments in data channels have been the statistical infrastructure production, transmission, accelerated, diversified and Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 15

Table 2. Planned and realised strategic objectives by strategic goals

2007-2010 2007-2011

Planned Realised % Planned Realised % Goal 1. Adopting New Methodologies and Producing 36 26 72.2 44 41 93.2 New Statistics and Indicators Goal 2. Improving Content of Surveys and Increasing 22 15 68.2 30 29 96.7 Data Variety Goal 3. Realising Improvements Related to Compilation 4 4 100 7 6 85.7 and Timeliness of Data Goal 4. Improving Data Quality 5 6 120 9 9 100

Goal 5. Improving Register and Information Systems 3 3 100 5 5 100

Goal 6. Decreasing Response Burden 1 - - 2 1 50 Goal 7. Improving the Role of the Institution in the Field 2 2 100 6 6 100 of Statistics Goal 8. Strengthening the Technical Capacity and 8 4 50 11 11 100 Technological Infrastructure Goal 9. Increasing Use of Statistics in the Public and 5 5 100 7 7 100 Facilitating Access to Data Total 86 65 75.6 121 115 95

visually improved. In parallel to the precedence and importance statistical offices, continuation these activities user satisfaction of these systems. Strengthening of collaboration, and involvement has increased. Databases to data integration, accessibility in joint project activities. serve all users were designed and user friendliness through and dynamic webpage continued collaboration with Closing Remark searches were developed. other organisations •• Increasing comparability, The enforcement of the Turkish 13. To improve public relations consistency, data quality and Statistical Law (No: 5429) in 2005, effectively, communication integration increasing responsibilities within instruments such as social •• Improving the metadata system the scope of Official Statistics media were used to share •• Making changes and making Program, compliance with EU data/information, a Press efficient use of resources to and Public Financial Management Room was activated on the further decrease response and Control Law (No: 5018) could webpage which achieved burden be seen as both an advantage interactive communication. For •• Establishing a Management and a disadvantage for TurkStat. the statistical literacy program, Information System to bring Considering all these changes, several media training activities about efficient internal control. TurkStat has made important were implemented. Performing managerial developments in terms of realising approaches such as strategic the strategic goals and objectives Areas to be improved and prioritised: management and process based as outlined above. Coordination at, management which are foreseen and the effectiveness of TurkStat •• Ensuring that every institution by the new public financial has increased, progress in the included in the official statistics management for every level in field of statistical production and program compiles and the institution dissemination has been ensured, disseminates statistics fully •• Increasing public opinion and both institutional and statistical compatible with international recognition. Make up-to-date capacities have been improved. and EU standards policies to improve societies •• Continuation of efficient awareness and consciousness practices towards strengthening of statistics through the use the Turkish Statistical System of social media and new and efficient usage of EU technological communication resources tools TurkStat Strategic Plan •• Continuation of improving •• Increasing TurkStat’s recognition 2007-2011 registration systems at the at the international level, effective www.turkstat.gov.tr/ national level taking into account communication with national stratejik_plan/str2007.pdf 16 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisics Current Price Topics: The Impact of the European Debt Crisis on U.S. Import Prices

Sergei Shev, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

he fallout from the recent From the onset of the European debt if the shift in the exchange rate is European debt crisis leads crisis that began with the Greek thought to be of a more permanent Tto questions about its impact debt announcement in November duration, a higher pass-through rate on exchange rates and the U.S. 2009 to June 2010 when the value is likely. Thus it is possible that as the economy. On November 5, 2009, the of the euro bottomed out versus the euro rose and fell during the second newly elected Greek administration U.S. dollar, the euro depreciated 18 half of 2009, European exporters did announced that Greece’s budget percent. However, figure 1 shows not foresee a permanent change in deficit would be more than double that import prices from the EU the exchange rate. what was expected. This much actually continued to rise slowly as larger budget estimate raised fears the crisis began. There was a notable Another factor that can affect the of Greek sovereign debt insolvency flattening between February and May short-term impact of a change in and sparked the beginning of the 2010, and the index turned slightly exchange rates is the percentage European debt crisis. The ensuing downward in June 2010. of goods that are priced in a downgrades of Greece’s debt and foreign currency compared with the similar doubts regarding Spain and So why wasn’t there a greater impact percentage priced in U.S. dollars. For Portugal’s solvency, which appeared from the sharp drop in the value of goods priced in a foreign currency, during the first half of 2010, also the euro on import prices during the the price has to be converted into contributed to a decline in the value European debt crisis? One reason is U.S. dollar terms before the good is of the euro versus the U.S. dollar that the impact on prices will depend, used in the calculation of indexes. from November 2009 to June 2010. to some degree, on the perceived The average exchange rate index An interesting question is, did this duration in the shift in exchange rates. that BLS uses to convert import drop in the value of the euro have Research has shown that as short- prices for goods priced in a foreign any impact on import prices to the term fluctuations of the exchange currency into U.S. dollar terms is United States from the European rate occur, companies are more lagged 1 month. The BLS reference Union (EU)? likely to pass through only a small period for the Import/Export (MXP) percentage of the currency change and LOO price indexes is the first of Historically, the movement of the into the prices of their goods in order the month. Therefore, the exchange euro against the U.S. dollar appears to preserve market share. However, rate used for the currency conversion to affect the price of imported goods from the EU. The locality of origin Figure 1. European Union locality of origin index and U.S. Dollar/Euro (LOO) price index of imports from exchange rate the EU published by the US Bureau June 2009 - September 2010 of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides Index Value 2000=100 Dollars per euro some evidence on the impact of exchange rate changes. The euro 150 1.5 was first introduced as an electronic 145 1.45 currency in 1999 and remained relatively flat from that point until 140 1.4

2002. In 2002, banknotes and 135 1.35 coinage were introduced and the 130 1.3 euro began to appreciate in relation to the U.S. dollar. In response, import 125 1.25 prices from Europe also increased. 120 1.2 Conversely, subsequent dips in the J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S euro’s value tended to pull the import EU LOO Euro/USD price index down. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and dollar exchange rate from Federal Reserve Bank Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 17

is the average exchange rate for the hand, if an item is priced in a foreign impact on this index. In figure 2, the month prior to the reference period. currency, the pass-through rate of correlation between prices and the Because of this process, there is an an exchange rate change to the U.S. exchange rate of the euro versus immediate effect when there is a dollar price jumps to approximately the U.S. dollar is indeed closer, with currency movement. For example, 95 percent. the index declining 6.5 percent from even if from one period to the next, January 2010 to July 2010. the price of an item is unchanged The market basket for the price index in euro-denominated terms, if the of imports from the European Union This analysis raises an interesting euro appreciated 10 percent during is predominately priced in dollars, point. If the U.S. dollar were to lose that period, then after currency with only about 14 percent priced its traditional standing as a «world» conversion, the dollar-equivalent in a foreign currency. Consequently, currency, leading to more products price of the item will also register a when looking at U.S. imports from being priced in foreign currency, then 10 percent increase. In contrast, for Europe, regardless of the perceived the impact on prices of a change in goods priced in U.S. dollars, there duration of an exchange rate change, the value of the euro (or any other is no immediate direct change from the tendency is for a change in currency) versus the U.S. dollar converting the price into another the exchange rate to have a much might be greater over time. Recent currency. There may, however, be greater impact on the European discussions among OPEC countries a lagged response if over time a seller’s price than the U.S. buyer’s to move away from pricing in U.S. company changes the U.S. dollar price. This may help explain why the dollars, as well as China’s recent price. As the value of the euro falls, drop in the value of the euro only had questioning of the U.S. dollar as the amount European companies a comparatively small impact on the the world’s reserve currency, have that price their exports in U.S. dollars dollar price of imports from Europe created an uncertain future for the receive for their items increases in in 2009 and 2010. pricing of U.S. imports. euro terms; thus firms may lower the price of their exports to the United What would the impact have been if States in order to capture more a greater percentage of import prices OECD NUCLEAR ENERGY market share. from the EU had been priced in a Agency foreign currency? Looking at the Firms, however, take time to adapt import price index for pulp and paper N u c l e a r their prices to currency movements, machinery provides some insight which can result in a short-term into that question. Pulp and paper Energy: FUture stability of prices. A recent study machinery is primarily imported from Developments showed that the pass-through Europe, and roughly 57 percent of rate of currency appreciation or the items in the index are priced in the light of depreciation on the price of a good in a foreign currency. If the recent is only about 25 percent for items analysis holds, the drop in the value Fukushima priced in U.S. dollars. On the other of the euro should have a greater Serge Gas, OECD Nuclear Energy Figure 2. Pulp and Paper Machinery Index and Euro / U.S. Dollar Exchange Agency Rate uclear energy provided 22% of June 2009 - September 2010 electricity generation in OECD countries at the end of 2010. Index Value Dollars per euro N However the proportion varied greatly 150 1.5 in the 17 countries that use nuclear

145 1.45 power, from 74.1% in France to 3.2% in the Netherlands, with the largest 140 1.4 regional share being produced in the 135 1.35 OECD Pacific countries (Korea and

130 1.3 Japan). Collectively OECD countries generate close to 85% of the world’s 125 1.25 nuclear power.

120 1.2 J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S Figure 1 indicates the nuclear Pulp & Paper Machinery Euro/USD generation in terawatt hours (TWh) Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and dollar exchange rate from Federal Reserve as a percentage of electricity Bank 18 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

production for OECD countries. global temperature increases to 2 testing of the capability of existing Please be aware that these figures degrees, considered the potential nuclear power plants to withstand have not been updated following the and challenges for nuclear in external events and prolonged loss Japanese nuclear accident in 2011. reaching 24% of global electricity of cooling functions, in addition production or about three times the to the adequacy of their accident Nuclear Developments in the current capacity. Issues such as management. light of Fukushima supply chain capabilities, financing, progress with final disposition However, there was a reconfirmation Increasingly in the last 5-10 years, of radioactive waste and human of stated intentions to introduce nuclear power has been seen as an resource are known challenges. new nuclear plants in the Czech important response to enhancing Nuclear construction growth rates, Republic, Turkey and the UAE, while security of supply and mitigating similar to the peak periods in 1970s in the UK and the US, the value of climate change. This change has also and 1980s, would be required to nuclear energy as part of a diverse been supported by the improving meet this 24% of global electricity energy mix was restated. It is clear competitiveness of nuclear power production target. that, overall, there will be a slow- in comparison to other sources of down in nuclear building rates and electricity generation. For example, Following the Fukushima accident, that previous high growth targets the International Energy Agency there was a general review among will not be achieved. Clearly, public (IEA)/Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) nuclear and prospective nuclear confidence has been significantly publication on Projected Costs of countries of the safety of existing affected and re-establishing trust Electricity (2010) indicated that plants and a reconsideration of will be a long and challenging task. nuclear was the most competitive new build programmes. As a result, However, it is not clear how extensive if the financing costs were kept Germany announced an accelerated this period of reconsideration will low and a $30 (USD) carbon price phase-out of nuclear energy, be and, given that rapid economic was introduced. As a result, many Switzerland announced a phase-out growth is expected in China and assessments were published but without defined timelines to date India, where available low carbon showing the importance for a and Italy voted in a referendum not alternatives do not exist at sufficient sustainable energy future in having to re-introduce nuclear. Elsewhere, scale, it is possible that the impact larger amounts of nuclear power and many countries committed to a on nuclear growth will not be as for the first time since the 1980s, new comprehensive review of existing severe as in the periods following nuclear construction was gaining plants, either at a national level or, in Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. momentum. At the end of 2010, there some cases, at regional levels, such were 65 plants under construction, as in Europe as part of a coordinated For the coming years, many of which 27 were in China. The IEA/ and harmonized process. The results lessons have yet to be learned from NEA Nuclear Roadmap to 2050 of this latter process are expected Fukushima and, undoubtedly, the (2010), based on a scenario to limit towards the end of 2011 and involve nuclear industry and regulatory bodies will be focusing on this task, so that both existing and new Figure 1. Nuclear Power Share of Total Electricty Production (2010) designs can incorporate lessons % learned. Costs for nuclear energy 78 are likely to rise as new requirements 72

66 become mandatory with investment 60 becoming harder to obtain, but it will 54 take some time before the full impact 48

42 is known.

6 0 OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Spain Korea Japan EU27* India** France Brazil** Mexico Finland China** Canada Sweden Belgium Hungary Slovenia Germany

OECD Tota l www.oecd-nea.org Switzerland Netherlands United States South Africa**South Czech Republic United Kingdom Slovak Republic [email protected] Russian Federation** Russian

Sources: OECD Nuclear Energy Agency; * Euraton Supply Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency - Power Reactor Information System (IAEA PRIS); ** IAEA PRIS Issue No. 53, September 2011 - THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD 19 publications Recent publications

Communications Outlook 2011 This new edition covers developments such as the emergence of next generation access networks and the exhaustion of unallocated IPv4 addresses, and aims to provide an overview of efforts on the part of countries to promote competition and foster innovation in communication markets through regulation. It also examines the issues surrounding broadcasting markets, Internet infrastructure, communications expenditure and use by households and business, and trends in telecommunications services.

OECD (2011), Communications Outlook 2011, OECD Publishing. www.oecd.org/sti/telecom/outlook

International Migration Outlook 2011

This publication provides an analysis of recent developments in migration movements and policies in OECD countries and two analytical chapters, covering migrant entrepreneurship and international migration to Israel.

OECD (2011), International Migration Outlook 2011, OECD Publishing. www.oecd.org/migration/imo

OECD Regions at a glance 2011 The differences between countries are often not as great as the disparities within them. OECD Regions at a Glance makes these differences across “places” apparent and unpacks what they imply for national performance and individual welfare. It does so by providing region-by-region indicators that help to identify areas that are outperforming or lagging behind in their country, as well as the OECD area. This publication aims to provide evidence on the progress OECD regions have made towards more sustainable development, and to help policy makers identify which factors drive the competitive edge of regions and what local resources could be better mobilised to increase national growth and people’s well-being.

OECD (2011), OECD Regions at a Glance 2011, OECD Publishing. www.oecd.org/regional/regionsataglance

OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2011-20 20

This report assesses agricultural market trends and prospects for production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices of featured commodities, including biofuels.

This year’s edition includes a special section on price volatility and price transmission from world to domestic markets, analysing the evidence of and changes in price volatility over the longer term and summarising FAO and OECD policy advice.

OECD (2011), OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2011-2020, OECD Publishing. www.agri-outlook.org 20 THE STATISTICS NEWSLETTER - OECD - Issue No. 53, September 2011

Agenda Forthcoming meetings

OECD

Date Meeting

12-13 Sept. 2011 Global Forum on the Knowledge Economy, OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry. OECD, Paris, France www.oecd.org/knowledgeeconomy 3-6 Oct. 2011 Working Group on International Investment Statistics (WGIIS), Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs. OECD, Paris, France 12 Oct. 2011 Conference on Well-being and Progress: Two years after the recommendations of the Stiglitz- Sen-Fitoussi Commission (co-organised by France and the OECD). OECD, Paris, France 24-28 Oct. 2011 Working Party on Financial Statistics & Working Party on National Accounts, OECD Statistics Directorate. OECD, Paris, France 25-26 Oct. 2011 OECD Global Forum on the Environment: Making Water Reform Happen. OECD, Paris, France www.oecd.org/document/57/0,3746,en_21571361_44315115_47429177_1_1_1_1,00.html 7-9 Nov. 2011 Working Party on International Trade in Goods and Trade in Services Statistics (WPTGS), Statistics Directorate. OECD, Paris, France 10 Nov. 2011 Meeting of the Task Force on Statistics of International Trade in Services (TFSITS), OECD Statistics Directorate. OECD, Paris, France 17-18 Nov. 2011 Fifth Joint EU/OECD Workshop on the International Development of Business and Consumer Tendency Surveys, OECD Statistics Directorate. Brussels, Belgium 17-18 Nov. 2011 Health Care Quality Indicators (HCQI) Expert Group, OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs. OECD, Paris, France 22-23 Nov. 2011 Conference on “Economic Insecurity: Measurement, Causes and Policy Implications” jointly organised by the International Association for Research in Income and Wealth (IARIW) and the OECD. OECD, Paris, France www.oecd.org/document/38/0,3746,en_2649_201185_48411558_1_1_1_1,00.html 28 Nov. 2011 22nd Session of the Working Party on Territorial Indicators, Directorate for Public Governance and Territorial Development. OECD, Paris, France 29- Nov.-1 Dec. 2011 Aid Effectiveness, fourth high level forum, to assess 2010 targets and commitments of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action. OECD Development Co-operation Directorate. Busan, Korea www.busanhlf4.org 30 Nov.-2 Dec. 2011 Meeting of the OECD Expert Group on Household Statistics on Income, Consumption and Wealth, OECD Statistics Directorate. OECD, Paris, France 5-6 Dec. 2011 Asian Conference on Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies (co-organised by the Economic and Social Research Institute of Japan and the OECD). Tokyo, Japan

Other meetings 12-13 Sept. 2011 2011 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF. Washington DC, USA www.imf.org/external/am/index.htm 23-26 Oct. 2011 World Health Summit. Berlin, Germany www.worldpensionsummit.com/ 2-4 Nov. 2011 World Pension Summit. Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-africa-2011 3-4 Nov. 2011 G20 Summit. Cannes, France www.g20.org/ 29 Nov.-9 Dec. COP 17 - CMP 17: the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Durban, South Africa

Unless otherwise indicated attendance at OECD meetings and working parties is by invitation only. The Statistics Newsletter for the extended OECD statistical network Issue 53 - September 2011