Measuring & Reducing Statistical Burden

- A case study from Ireland

Steve MacFeelyDirector of Business Statistics & InnovationCentral Statistics Office, Ireland

Outline of Presentation

1. Context & history2. Building a statistical system3. Measuring Burden – 2 approaches4. Reducing Burden5. Tackling Perception6. Blockages & Risks7. Lessons (so far...)

CSO – 5 High Level Goals

1. Improvement in the scope, quality and timeliness of our statistics

2. Minimising the burden on survey respondents

3. Increasing the use of administrative data for statistical purposes

4. Achieving greater efficiencies using best practices

5. Raising public awareness and use of statistics

Demand for statistics

Data Requirements

Domestic International

Building a statistical system

NSB Strategy for Statistics 2003 – 2008

- coherent whole-system approach - harness all the potential of existing data sources- support evidence-based policy making

Statistical Potential of Administrative Records (SPAR)

- 2003 Person & Social- 2005 Enterprise & Environmental - 2008 Taxation- 20?? Local Government?

2003 Government decision – Data/Statistics Strategy

- determine departments data needs (and likely sources) - determine skills required to analyse data

Measuring Burden – Approach 1 (CSO)

Concepts: Questionnaire basedTime taken Actual Compliance

2004 – Pilot burden measurement

2008 – 1st Report on Response Burden placed on Irish Businesses by CSO enquiries, 2007

2009 – Burden question to all enterprise questionnaires

2010 – 1st comprehensive Response Burden Barometer (web only)

Measuring Burden – Approach 2 (Standard Cost Model)

Concepts: Interview basedFull complianceBusiness As Usual

2010 – Standard Cost Model Report: Measurement of administrative burden imposed on Irish businesses by Central Statistics Office inquiries

Approaches 1 & 2 – Summary of key results

• In 2008 over 67% of businesses in Ireland did not receive any inquiries from CSO

• 20% of businesses in 2008 only received a single questionnaire from CSO

• Less than 5% of enterprises received more than 10 forms

• In 2008 CSO imposed an overall burden on businesses of €10.8 million

• CSO inquiries account for less than 1% of total administrative burden

• Between 2007 and 2008 Net burden fell by 7%

• Forecast Net reduction in burden of approximately 19% between 2007 and 2011

Reducing Burden - Actions

Internal- Reduce sample sizes- Re-engineer questionnaires/small business forms- Terminate surveys- Data matching- Re-organisation of business statistics (product to process)- LSS Process mapping review- Create Administrative Data Centre- Create Large Cases Unit

External- Joint Surveys- Formal MOUs- Increased use of administrative data- Automatic data extraction

Results – Change in NET burden

Perception

2006 – HM Government (UK) ONS accounts for 0.3% of total administrative burden

2009 – Stoiber Group European Commission High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens Statistics accounts for €629m or 0.5% of total administrative burden

2010 – CSO Statistics accounts for €10.8m or 0.5% of total administrative burden

Actions to mitigate perception

Response Burden Barometer

Statistics Seminars

Papers & articles

Business & Trade Association Conferences

Statistics Liaison Groups

High Level Group on Burden Reduction

Blockages to progress

Poor statistical infrastructure:

- Unique Business Identifiers

- Postal/Spatial codes

- Harmonised Accounting taxonomy

- Interdepartmental Business Register

Difficulty accessing to “new” data:

- Data Protection issues (legal interpretation)

- Coordinated v’s Unilateral approach

Risks

Dependence on administrative data holders

Data Protection legislation

Ability to control staff profile

No change in perception

Financial crisis

Other official or private sector surveys/publications cease

Lessons (so far...)

Statistical Infrastructure needed

Strategic, coordinated approach necessary- Nationally- Internationally

Limit to real burden reduction

Transfer of burden (from enterprises to NSIs)

Results validated (but surprising – contrary to perception)

Unintended consequences - estimating burden is risky

Statistics have a high irritation factor

Communication crucial

Contact details

Steve MacFeelyDirector of Business Statistics & InnovationCentral Statistics OfficeSkehard RoadCorkIreland

steve.macfeely@cso.ie

Tel (direct): 00-353-21-453 5303Mobile: 00-353-87-2290 273

John HayesStatistician – Administrative Data

Central Statistics OfficeSkehard RoadCorkIreland

John.hayes@cso.ie

Tel (direct): 00-353-453 5082