RECON AT (MDE) – reducing asymmetries in collected data

ended

"Asymmetries are an inherent feature of all statistics for which ""mirror"" statistics are collected. The background of the modernisation of the intra-EU trade in goods statistics was to provide for the possibility of a substantial reduction of the response burden, while at the same time maintaining a sound level of quality and therefore also responding to user needs. Reducing the costs and administrative burden of respondents of collecting and producing statistics while at the same time improving the quality of the statistical information are its key aims of the modernisation. Asymmetries in ITGS can be explained to a certain extent by methodological reasons, but they also point to data quality problems. Addressing these issues in a comprehensive way answers the users’ needs for quality and reliable statistics, and helps to ensure data quality and subsequently trust in official statistics. The better the mirroring exports and imports data match each other, the easier and more efficient it would be for a compiler in the receiving Member State (RMS) to (re-)use the exchanged data on the intra-EU exports of the other Member States. The specific objective as of the Theme 1 is to identify the causes of asymmetry and correct the data in case the asymmetry was caused by an (reporting) error and ensure therefore quality improvements of ITGS data. Both objectives should well be addressed by Statistics Austria, when carrying out, according to “Theme 1 of the “Invitation to submit a proposal” reconciliation exercises, contributing to joint investigations and contributing to the knowledgebase on causes of asymmetries in ITGS – being “reporting errors” or “methodological based reasons”."