PARIS21
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Presentation Transcript
PARIS21 Task Force On Statistical Capacity IMF Statistics Department May 21, 2001
Premise of the presentation Measuring statistical capacity Equals Assessing data quality
Plan of the presentation • Background • Description of the framework • Current and potential uses of the framework • Concluding remarks
Background A framework: its uses dictate that it be: • Comprehensive • Balanced between experts’ rigor and generalists’ bird’s eye view • Widely applicable: • Across various stages of statistical development • Across the major datasets • Designed to give transparent results • Arrived at by drawing on national statisticians’ best practices
Framework suite of tools Generic (3-digit) “Lite” Summary of Results etc. Dataset (6-digit) etc. DatasetSpecific (5-digit) etc. GFS BOP NA
A cascading structure Five dimensions (plus prerequisites) of quality And for each dimension; Elements that can be used in assessing quality And for each element; Indicators that are more concrete and detailed; And for each indicator; Focal issues that are tailored to the dataset Structure of the framework
Structure of the framework (cont’d) The cascading structure—an example • For serviceability, one of the five dimensions: • Four elements are identified as being useful in assessing that dimension: relevance, timeliness and periodicity, consistency, and revision policy and practice • For consistency, three indicators are identified to provide detail and concreteness for that element: intertemporal, internal, and intersectoral consistency • For internal consistency, the focal issues in [dataset] are…
Framework preview • Purpose: serve as a diagnostic preview or for a nonstatistician’s assessment • 13 specific (three-digit) indicators were identified (in the handout): • Relatively nontechnical • Relatively easy to get information • Formatted (in the handout) as a worksheet
Framework summary • Summary presentation of results • Purpose: for nonstatisticians—such as policy advisors and potential investors—after a full assessment based on the DQAF • For clarity and comparability (in handout): • For each dataset, a one-page table • At the two-digit level (21 elements) • On a 4-point scale, from “practice observed” to “practice not observed” • With an “n.A.” Column • With a “comments” column
Uses of the framework • To guide IMF staff • In assessing data for IMF’s use in surveillance and operations; • In preparing ROSCs; and • In designing technical assistance • To guide country efforts (including self-assessments) in strengthening statistical capacity • To guide data users—to complement the SDDS and GDDS
Concluding remarks • General reaction • Welcome initiative • Fills important gap • Is careful and thoughtful • Provides basis for coherent and practical way forward in a complex field