Links to Related Sites

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Short-Term Economic Timeliness Framework

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

The STES Timeliness Framework is a structured collection of documentation on a range of methodological and operational good practices currently used by national statistical organisations (NSOs) for improving timeliness, reducing costs or improving accuracy in the production of short-term economic statistics (STES). It was created by a taskforce of the OECD Short-Term Economic Statistics Expert Group (STESEG), as a tool to assist NSOs in improving the timeliness of the STES they produce. It is presented as a user friendly website at www.oecd.org/std/research/timeliness, where both summary and detailed documentation on methods can be accessed through the main reference table. The current documentation referenced within the framework comes from 22 different countries, thus it should be diverse enough to be of use to all NSOs that operate under a variety of different circumstances.

Statistics Norway

http://www.ssb.no/english/about_ssb/annual_report/2001/annual_report_2001.pdf

Statistics Norway is working systematically on data quality to improve its products and its efficiency, as described on page 41 of the Annual Report 2001. In the Strategy 2002 paper, Statistics Norway lays out the agency's work plan and its efforts concerning quality (http://www.ssb.no/english/about_ssb/).

Statistics Finland Quality Guideline

www.stat.fi/qualityguidelines

Statistics Finland has published the "Quality Guidelines for Official Statistics Handbook" (in English). The Handbook covers the Finnish operating framework of official statistics, details on the statistical production and survey design, documentation and archiving, data dissemination, and customer orientation. It is intended for users and others interested in the functioning of Statistics Finland. The Handbook is available in hard copy and in internet version, which will be updated continuously as necessary.

Statistics Canada Quality Assurance Framework

http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/12-586-XIE/free.htm

Statistics Canada's Quality Assurance Framework 2002 has been published. The framework, originally drafted in 1997, describes how Statistics Canada manages the quality of its information products. It is an overview of the management approach used by the Agency to achieve an appropriate balance between the evolving needs of clients, costs, respondent burden, and the various dimensions of quality. Quality is viewed as a multidimensional concept embracing both the relevance of the information to users' needs, and the characteristics of accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, interpretability, and coherence that determine how the information can be used. The framework is described in relation to these dimensions.

Commission of the European Communities

http://www.euireland.ie/news/econfin/1102/euroareastats.htm

The European Commission is calling for an upgrade of euro area statistics and the adoption of a code of best practice. Wednesday, November 27, 2002 the Commission adopted two communications aiming to upgrade the quality of euro area statistics. The first communication focuses on the need to improve the quality of budgetary statistics that are crucial to the Stability and Growth Pact. This communication COM(2002) 670 final can be found on the website of the Commission http://www.europakommissionen.dk/upload/application/af930f41/com2002661.pdf. The second communication tackles the issue of euro area macroeconomic statistics in general, which are essential for the conduct of monetary policy and an effective coordination of economic policies. The second communication COM(2002) 660 final can be found on the web site of the European Commission http://www.europakommissionen.dk/upload/application/b01e060b/com2002_670_en.pdf

United Nations Good Practices in Official Statistics

http://esa.un.org/unsd/goodprac/bpabout.asp

This site provides reference material on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. It elaborates on the essential elements behind each of the principles and provides examples of policies and practices followed by various countries for implementing the various elements of the Principles (including where relevant hypertext links to the relevant statistical agency websites).

United Nations Methodological Publications in Statistics

http://esa.un.org/unsd/progwork/

The Statistics Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs maintains a database, to which others contribute entries, on Methodological Publications in Statistics. The database is composed of two parts: the "work in progress" part, containing information on planned or current work in progress, and the "completed work" part, which provides details and annotations on previously adopted statistical standards and published methodological work.

Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System

With the aim of attaining improved quality in the European Statistical System (ESS), the Leadership Group (LEG) on Quality has developed a Quality Declaration of the ESS. This declaration is available on the following hyperlink, by clicking on "Leadership Group (LEG) on Quality" (scroll down on left frame) and from there to Annex 1.

http://amrads.jrc.it/WPs 20pages/Quality/quality.htm