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Towards an Integrated Economic Statistics Program :

The Experience of Hong Kong, China

International Workshop on Economic Census26 – 29 July 2005

Beijing, China

Frederick W.H. HoCommissioner for Census & Statistics

Hong Kong, China

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1. Purposes/uses of an Integrated Economic Statistics Program (IESP)

2. Components of an IESP

3. Features of an IESP

4. Achieving an IESP

Contents

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(a) Economic analysis Enabling macro-economic and

micro-economic analysis Performance of the overall econ

omy, the external sector, the domestic sector, the financial sector, the labour sector and prices

Purposes/Uses of an Integrated Economic Statistics Program

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(b)Macro-level policy formulation and decision Identifying and consolidating key

industries Developing strategic

arrangements with partner economies

Assisting new industries

Purposes/Uses of an Integrated Economic Statistics Program

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(c) Determining sectoral development Developing strategies for develo

pments in specific economic sectors

Sectoral productivity studies

Purposes/Uses of an Integrated Economic Statistics Program

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(d)Business studies Profitable lines of business Appropriate mix of products Optimun level of operation Benechmaking Firm level productivity studies Marketing strategies Investment decisions

Purposes/Uses of an Integrated Economic Statistics Program

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(e) For the Statistical Authority:an aid to data quality control Achieving consistency of

statistics from different statistical systems/programs

Identifying data problems where inconsistencies exist (or appear to exist)

Purposes/Uses of an Integrated Economic Statistics Program

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(f) For the Statistical Authority: facilitating coherence of statistical development Users’ needs better met overall More efficient use of statistical

resources

Purposes/Uses of an Integrated Economic Statistics Program

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(a) Trade Statistics System

Based on trade declarations and cargo manifests submitted to Customs Authority

Value, volume, prices

Origin and destination of goods

Components of an IESP

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(b) National accounts/BoP/Monetary statistics system

Banking and monetary statistics derived from administrative records

GDP/GNP/BoP statistical systems based on data from different economic surveys/statistical systems and other sources

Components of an IESP

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(c) Economic census/survey program

Annual economic censuses/surveys

Sub-annual economic surveys

Co-ordinated approach in the development of annual and sub-annual economic surveys

Components of an IESP

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(d) Prices Consumer price indices from monthly Price

Survey

Producer price indices from Quarterly Survey of Industrial Production and Quarterly Survey of Services Industries

Import/export unit value indices and terms of trade from Trade Statistics System

GDP deflator from national accounts statistical system

Components of an IESP

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(e) Closely associated programs

Labour Statistics Program

Population and Demographic Statistics Program

Components of an IESP

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(a) Basic design Component systems operated in

accordance with recommendations of International Organizations

(b)Definitions Harmonization of definitions

where standardization cannot be achieved

Features of an IESP

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(c) Classifications

Common classification used as far as possible (e.g. Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification)

Statistics compiled based on alternative classifications to meet specific user needs (e.g. the electronics industry)

Features of an IESP

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(d)Data Sources

Administrative records

Economic censuses/surveys

(e) Geographical demarcations

Enabling the building block approach where different demarcations are desired by different user groups

Features of an IESP

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(f) Interlocking nature of component systems

Each system produces output data which may be used by both final data users and some other systems as input data

Features of an IESP

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(a) Well co-ordinated statistical institutions

(b)Good communication with potential users and raw data suppliers

Achieving an IESP

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(c) Close communication with International Orgainzations

Understanding and adopting current standards

Contributing to the establishment and evolution of standards

Achieving an IESP

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(d)Dual approach

Bottom-up approach : reconciling existing systems

Top-down approach : conceiving an ideal overall program and bringing down to earth a realistic blue-print which features a balanced program

Achieving an IESP

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(e) Priorities consideration

Constraints in financial resources and technical resources

Survey respondents’ burden

Don’t be over-ambitious : should consider the capacity of component systems carefully

Achieving an IESP

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Thank You