United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division The CES Recommendations as a basis for the Census Questionnaires Angela Me, Chief Social and Demographic Statistics Section

CES Recommendations v Methodology v Technology (latest developments) v Census Topics To illustrate different approaches, not to recommend To recommend a core set of topics and for each topic (core and not core) to recommend definitions, classifications - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 2

CES Recommendations The objectives of the Recommendations are: § To provide guidance and assistance to countries in the planning and conducting of their population and housing census § To facilitate and improve the comparability of the census data at regional level - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 3

CES Recommendations How can the Recommendations help in designing a census questionnaire? § To make decisions on the topics to be included § To define topics and their classifications § To phrase questions - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 4

CES Recommendations To make decision on the topics to be included considering…… § The demand for data at national and local levels § The availability of data from other statistical sources § The constrains of the census for data collection National debate but the Recommendations provide criteria § International/Regional comparability CES Recommendations: core and non-core - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 5

Selection of census topics List of core and non-core topics in Appendix 1 - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 6

Selection of census topics What are the criteria for a topic to BE included in the census? - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 7

The CES Recommendations Criteria to INCLUDE the topic in the census § It carries a strong and clearly defined user need § There are no other means than the census to collect data § Data are required for small population/geographical groups § It is of major national importance and relevant at local level § Data are expected to be used in multivariate analysis with other census topics § The content does not differ drastically from previous censuses and can still provide comparison - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 8

Selection of census topics What are the criteria for a topic NOT to BE included in the census? - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 9

The CES Recommendations Criteria to EXCLUDE the topic from the census 1. It is sensitive or potentially intrusive or require lengthy explanations 2. It imposes an excessive burden on respondents or seeks information not readily known or that people are unlikely to remember 3. It enquires about opinions or attitudes 4. It is likely to present major coding problems or extensive processing or significantly add to the overall cost of the census - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 10

The CES Recommendations help to define the topics and their classifications A clarification…. The Recommendations are output oriented and define what topic/data need to be obtained. It is left to the countries to decide how the topic/data can be collected - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 11

Example: Main source of livelihood (non-core topic) The "main source of livelihood" is the principal source of income from which the consumption of each person was financed during a specified reference period. It is recommended that preference is given to a long reference period, such as the preceding twelve months, calendar year or financial year, in order to take account of sources which may actually provide an income at periodic or seasonal intervals (such as income from seasonal activities, payment of quarterly benefits from pension plans, annual payment of scholarships or dividends, income from intermittent secondary activities, etc. ). Income in kind as well as in cash should be taken into account. - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 12

Example: Main source of livelihood (non-core topic) It is suggested that the following main sources of livelihood should be distinguished: (1. 0) Employment: (1. 1) Wage employment (1. 2) Self-employment (2. 0) Property and other investments (3. 0) Pensions of all types (3. 1) Paid by the State and other public bodies (3. 2) Paid by enterprises, institutions, co-operative organizations and others (4. 0) Other transfers: (4. 1) Sickness and maternity allowances (4. 2) Unemployment benefits and relief (4. 3) Scholarship (4. 4) Benefits and assistance other than pensions, unemployment benefits, scholarship, and sickness and maternity allowances, provided by the State, other public bodies, cooperative organizations, enterprises or institutions (5. 0) Loans or reduction of savings, realisation of capital (6. 0) Dependent (mainly supported by another person or persons) (7. 0) Other sources - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 13

The CES Recommendations Classifications are presented at different level of details. For core topics not all digit-levels are recommended - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 14

The CES Recommendations help to design questions § They define the scope of the topic § In same cases, they suggest question wording (disability) § They provide suggestions for response categories - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 15

The CES Recommendations also …. § Present the relevance of each topic § Present for some topics the comparative advantage in relation to other census topics and other data collection activities (ex: economic characteristics) - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 16

The CES Recommendations DO NOT include a tabulation programme § A tabulation programme is presented at global level § Dissemination of census data is more dynamic than in the past so less need for a tabulation programme - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 17

The UN Global Census Recommendations § They are also a good source of standards on definitions and classifications of census topics § The two Recommendations are in general consistent, but the CES Recommendations are more detailed and more specific for the region § The two Recommendations are complementary and should be used together - UNECE Statistical Division Dushanbe, 12 -16 March 2007 Slide 18