United Nations Symposium on Population and Housing Censuses

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United Nations Symposium on Population and
Housing Censuses

• 13 14 September 2004
• New York

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The Joint Population Census for Mercosur, Bolivia
and Chile an experience of Regional Integration
Laura Cazzoli, INDEC, Argentina Alicia Bercovich,
IBGE, Brazil René Sá Vidal, INE, Chile
09/13/04
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2000 Census for Mercosur, Bolivia and Chile

• General Objectives
• Operationalization
• Joint Pilot Tests
• Current Status
• Differences with other Integration Projects
• Conclusion

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2000 Census for Mercosur, Bolivia and Chile

• Integration requires clear, reliable, and
  comparable statistics
• Members of Extended Mercosur
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Paraguay
• Uruguay
• Bolivia
• Chile

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General Objectives

• Obtain comparable statistical data
• Optimization of the Methodological, Human and
  Technological Resources of the countries for
  Census execution
• Obtain Institutional support to be able to
  execute the next Census as close to the year 2000
  as possible
• Make easier Horizontal Cooperation
• Potencialize the Technical International Support

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Operationalization

• Define a minimal set of common variables to be
  compatibilized and simultaneously disseminated
• Harmonization of definitions and concepts
• Achieve operational homogenization
• Ensure compatibility of classifications and
  coding systems
• Plan common tables, maps and figures
• Create a unique database

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Addressing the ProblemsWorking Groups

• Planning, supervision and control
• Concepts and Definitions
• Classifications and Coding
• Training
• Technological Aspects
• Data Dissemination and Documentation

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Concepts and Definitions

• Common variables
• Housing Characteristics
• Head of Household Characteristics
• Age and Sex
• Migration
• Educational Characteristics
• Economic Characteristics

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Classifications and Coding

• Industry (CAES Mercosur)
• Occupation
• Status of employment
• Other Characteristics
• Training
• Methodology
• Operational homogenization
• Handbook for Census Staff

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• Technological Aspects
• Data capture with scanners and ICR
• Automatic and Assisted Coding
• Editing and Imputation
• Data Dissemination and Documentation
• Unique Microdata Base
• Aggregated Data Base
• Common Tables and Figures
• Dissemination trough Website and Publications
• www.censomercosul.org

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Joint Pilot Tests

• Goals
• Testing common contents
• Comparing Training Methodologies
• Industry and Occupation Classification
• Testing Database Design and Production
• of Tables
• Carried out in 1998 and 1999, in the borders
  of Argentina and Brazil, Bolivia and Brazil,
  Argentina and Paraguay

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Joint Pilot Tests

• Results exceeded expectations
• Enthusiastic participation of population
• Media accompanied census activities
• Observers not only pointed differences but
• carried ideas to their own countries
• Similar Concepts and Definitions were sometimes
  operationalized in different ways

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Current Status

• Almost all the Mercosur Censuses carried between
  2000 and 2002
• Data Capture with scanners and ICR Joint
  Cooperation Network
• Common Classification for Industry (CAES
  Mercosur)
• Convergent Classifications for Occupation
• Automated Coding principles homogenized

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Current Status II

• Editing and Imputation Techniques discussed
• Quality Control and Evaluation Workgroups,
  Seminar on October 2004
• Website for the Common Census www.censomercosur.o
  rg
• Multidimensional Data Base
• Aggregated Data Base
• Pilot tests for new items to be Harmonized
  Disability, Indigenous Population, International
  Migration

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Final Remarks

• Differences with other Projects unusual way of
  organization
• Multiple sources of funding National Statistical
  Offices, UNFPA, IDB, JICA, UNDP, OIM, support
  from Census Bureau, INSEE, Statscan
• Integration of the teams
• Progress in the solution of common problems
• Socialization of Technological Advances
• Project continuation Pilot tests for new items
  to be Harmonized
• Lessons for 2005/2010