Short Term Economic Statistics Timeliness Framework

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Short Term Economic Statistics Timeliness
Framework

• Richard McKenzie OECD

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The STES Timeliness Framework

• Review of the framework, its original
  development, usage and promotion
• Plans for 2007 update and comparison with 2005
  and 2006 updates
• Discussion by STESWP on the need for future
  updates to the framework

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STES Timeliness Framework - Background

• Developed by the STESEG taskforce on timeliness
  and benchmarking
• Aims to assist countries to improve the
  timeliness of the STES they produce (reduce costs
  improve accuracy as well)
• A collection of good practices which cover all
  aspects of the statistical production process
• Documentation from a wide variety of countries
  (22 in all), so relevant to widest possible range
  of NSOs which operate under different
  circumstances

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STES Timeliness Framework - Background

• First version went live on the OECD website in
  September 2004, updated in September 2005 2006
• STESWP has the role to improve, maintain, use and
  promote the framework
• Documentation and updates now coordinated with
  Administrative data framework and links are made
  between these two products

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Development of the STES Timeliness Framework

• Timeliness is a function of the statistical
  production process
• However best practice in one country may not be
  applicable to another
• e.g. different user requirements, legislation,
  economic structures, institutional structures
  etc.
• Desire to develop a framework which presents a
  range of good practices for improving timeliness
  across different aspects of the statistical
  production process

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Developing the STES Timeliness Framework

• Multi-dimensional web based product
• Each dimension providing more detail on specific
  methods to improve timeliness
• Emphasis on how processes link together, for
  developing overall strategies
• Only references methods with proven operational
  success
• Contains a breath of material sourced from many
  countries to ensure wide applicability

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Structure of the STES Timeliness Framework
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Structure of the STES Timeliness Framework
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The web-based version

• www.oecd.org/std/research/timeliness

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Promoting the STES Timeliness Framework

• Maximise visibility on the OECD website
• STESEG members promotion in their own
  organisations
• Distribution by other international organisations
  to their relevant working groups
• Articles in OECD and UNSD Statistics Newsletters
• OECD Statistics Working paper keynote address
  at the April 2006 Quality in Official Statistics
  Conference in Cardiff

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Use of the STES Timeliness Framework

• OECD web trend statistics currently not available
  
• New system being put in place
• Was previously averaging around 200 visits per
  month on the home page
• STESWP 2006 meeting concluded material was still
  useful and framework should continue to be updated

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2007 update of the framework

• Request sent to most NSOs that participated in
  2006 STESWP to provide any new documentation
• 10 NSOs responded, with 4 providing a total of 12
  new papers (7 of which come from Finland)
• In 2006, 8 NSOs responded, with 4 providing a
  total of 20 new papers for assessment (of which
  12 came from the BLS)
• In 2005, 20 NSOs responded, with 11 providing a
  total of 33 new papers for assessment

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Future updates of the framework / discussion
points

• Does the lower response from NSOs suggest less
  work is being done to improve timeliness of STES?
• Relevant conference proceedings to review for the
  2007 update suggestions please!
• Framework structure and content continues to be
  relevant and OECD will continue to promote it
• Especially for non OECD countries which are most
  of the subscribers
• Also very useful as a statistical training tool
• How to better reach countries developing their SS?