The Evolution of National Statistical Systems
—Trends and Implications
Dennis Trewin
1
Outline of Presentation
•
Discussion of key influences over the
last 60 years
• Challenges
- Statistical Production
- Statistical Leadership
- International Statistical System
• Concluding Remarks
2
Key influences (1)
• Economic statistics have become more
integrated
• Household surveys have greatly increased
the availability of social statistics
• Environment statistics—a relatively new and
rapidly growing field of official statistics
3
Key Influences (2)
• The majority of countries are now
conducting Population Censuses
• There is much greater interest in having a
National Statistical System (that involves
all providers of official statistics)
• An increase in user engagement
4
Key Influences (3)
• Developments in ICT have greatly changed the
way statistics are disseminated
• The productivity of NSOs has increased
substantially
• The importance of independent and autonomous
NSOs is increasingly being recognized
5
Key Influences (4)
• Technology has been a major contributor to the
efficiency and effectiveness of NSOs
• Response rates in most but not all countries
have tended to deteriorate
• NSOs have become more involved in analysis or
supporting analysis
6
Key Influences (5)
• There have been moves towards a
global statistical system
• There has been an increase in the
availability of international statistical
standards
7
Challenges—National Statistics (1)
• Providing a statistical service that is timely,
relevant, responsive and respected for its
integrity and quality
• Obtaining reliable source data
• Increased use of administrative and
transactional data bases
8
Challenges—National Statistics (2)
• Use of analytical or model based methods
to support official statistics
• Setting up data sets primarily to support
analysis (e.g. linked data sets)
• Better support for secondary data analysis
by external researchers
9
Challenges—National Statistics (3)
• Increased use of the internet for data collection
• Garner opportunities provided by technology and
methodology developments to improve the
efficiency or effectiveness of the statistical
service
• Exploit technology developments to improve
information services
10
Challenges—National Statistics (4)
• Improve international comparability of data
• Build/maintain trust in official statistics
• Develop the human resource skills to do
the work
11
Challenges—National Statistics (5)
• Provide leadership to the National
Statistical System
12
Challenges—Global Statistical System
• Member countries/UNSC to provide a
leadership role
• International statistical agencies to
respond to the main concerns
• Improved coordination, particularly at the
country level
13