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Unit 2: Making cross-national comparisons using macro data >> 2.3 Nature of the UK Data Service Macro Databanks >> 2.3.2. Principles and good practice in the production and dissemination of international macro data
2.3.2. Principles and good practice in the production and dissemination of international macro data next page buttonnext previousprevious page button

Setting the standard - how good is the data contained in databanks?

Standards for data have been an issue for a number of years amongst international statisticians. In 1994 the United Nations specified a set of general criteria that a system of official statistical and has since produced a regularly updated Handbook of Statistical Organization which deals with the fundamentals of national systems of official statistics: general principles, data collection and respondent policies, principles of organization and management, and dissemination guidelines.

These have been developed and applied by a number of leading international organisations. Clearly, the higher the standard of data, the easier cross national comparison becomes.

The IMF, for example, encourages countries to use their Special or General Data Dissemination System (SDDS for countries agreeing to enhanced standards or GDDS for those agreeing to basic standards) (See IMF Standards for Data Dissemination). The following IMF table gives an indication of the dimensions of the standards:

The Four Dimensions of the GDDS
  1. The Data-Coverage, Periodicity, and Timeliness: Dissemination of reliable, comprehensive, and timely economic, financial, and socio-demographic data is essential to the transparency of macroeconomic performance and policy. The GDDS therefore recommends dissemination of data as described in Table 1.
  2. Quality: Data quality must have a high priority. Data users must be provided with information to assess quality and quality improvements. The GDDS recommends:
    • Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics.
    • Dissemination of component detail, reconciliations with related data, and statistical frameworks that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness.
  3. Integrity: To fulfil the purpose of providing the public with information, official statistics must have the confidence of their users. In turn, confidence in the statistics ultimately becomes a matter of confidence in the objectivity and professionalism of the agency producing the statistics. Transparency of practices and procedures are key factors in creating this confidence. The GDDS therefore recommends:
    • Dissemination of the terms and conditions under which official statistics are produced, including those relating to the confidentiality of individually identifiable information.
    • Identification of internal government access to data before release.
    • Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases.
    • Provision of information about revisions and advance notice of major changes in methodology.
  4. Access by the public: Dissemination of official statistics is an essential feature of statistics as a public good. Ready and similar access by the public are principal requirements. The GDDS recommends:
    • Dissemination of advance release calendars.
    • Simultaneous release to all interested parties.

Source: IMF, Guide to the General Data Dissemination System.
http://dsbb.imf.org/vgn/images/pdfs/gddsguide.pdf accessed 18 October 2006

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The University of Manchester; Mimas; ESRC; RDI

Countries and Citizens: Unit 2 Making cross-national comparisons using macro data by Dave Fysh, University of Portsmouth is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales Licence.