Modernisation of European social statistics Fernando REIS EUROSTAT

Modernisation of European social statistics Fernando REIS EUROSTAT 03 -04 December 2012 ESSnet Workshop, Rome

Context • The environment is changing • Rising importance of social statistics for policy making • Rising expectations for flexibility and quality • Growth of enabling technologies for producing, storing and sharing data • Reduced budgets for public spending, including on statistics

Context • Therefore need to adapt current systems • Vision on the production method of EU statistics From a stovepipe model To a re-engineered production method where statistics are produced as parts of integrated model • From Vision to Strategy • A joint approach to modernising European Social Statistics • A framework for modernisation of social statistics

(Electronic footprint) for statistical purposes Multimode data collection Streamlined coordinated social surveys PAPI, CATI, CAWI Basic registers (Individuals, Households, Dwellings, Buildings, …) Census Population frame (incl. sampling) Statistical processing Linking and matching (on individuals or aggregated) Output Administrative data (micro, meso or macro data) Non ESS surveys (ECB wealth) Warehouse(s) Common concepts and methods New data sources

Streamlining core social surveys • Aims: increase efficiency, responsiveness and level of integration • Modularisation: Breaking surveys down into smaller building blocks • Modularisation criteria: topic, frequency, sample size requirements, … • Integration: reintegrating the building blocks in a different way • Investigation of technical issues: estimation and sample design

Statistical data matching • Aim to increase the analytical potential of datasets through the application of modelling techniques • Eurostat actions: • Ex-post: matching of existing micro-data sets • Ex-ante: defining conditions for successful statistical data matching

Harmonisation of variables • Prerequisite for • • • Streamlining social surveys Statistical data matching Use of administrative data sources for statistics Cross-cutting analyses Core social variables as a good starting point • Eurostat actions: • Harmonised Variables in Social Statistics: Extended set to be used across surveys • Aiming at a de facto harmonisation

Multi-mode data collection • Variety of issues: • Move towards the use of computer assisted modes • Introduction of web-based interviewing • Combination of different modes • Eurostat actions: • ESSnet launched end of March

Use of administrative data sources • Issues to be addressed: • Legal: access, linkage, storage, … • Technical: common identifier • Relational: cooperation agreements, influence on design of administrative data sources, … • Quality: accuracy and reliability, timeliness and punctuality, coherence and comparability • Situations in Member States differ • Eurostat actions: • Amending Regulation (EC) 223/2009 • Exchange of good practices: workshop • Addressing quality issues