| Working Group
of Statistical Experts, 11th Session |
| Bangkok,
23-26 November 1999 |
| Report of
the United Nations Workshop on Classifications
|
Draft 11/9/99
United Nations Workshop on Classifications
27 Sept. - 1 Oct. 1999
Canberra, Australia |
| Final
report |
| 1. |
As part of the on-going activities
in the field of statistical classifications, the
United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD) conducted
a workshop in cooperation with the Statistics
Division of the Economic and Social Commission
of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Australian
Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The workshop was held
in Canberra, Australia, on 27 September - 1 October
1999. The Workshop was attended by 38 participants,
representing 14 countries and a number of regional
and international organizations. |
| 2. |
Being the first Workshop on
Classifications in the Asia and Pacific Region,
the Workshop was designed to focus on the situation
in the area of Statistical Classifications in
the region, its specifics, policy needs and requirements,
strategic planning for classification work, cooperation
within the region as well as a general introduction
to the International Family of Classifications,
rather than being a coding training exercise. |
| 3. |
One goal of this first Workshop
in the Asia and Pacific region was the assessment
of the current implementation of activity and
product classifications in the region, with special
attention to the International Standard Industrial
Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC)
and the Central Product Classification (CPC).
Most of the countries represented at the Workshop
have implemented or are in the process of implementing
an activity classification based on ISIC Rev.3.
Most of them were able to use the structure provided
by ISIC as a guideline and to introduce additional
detail to reflect their national economic situation.
However, there was a need expressed for a more
regional approach, i.e. the development of a classification
derived from ISIC that recognizes and meets the
needs of countries in the region. It was felt
that a regional adaptation of ISIC Rev.3 could
serve as a bridge between the requirements for
better representation of regional specifics and
comparability at the worldwide international level.
Similarly, concerns were raised regarding the
reflection of specific needs at the sub-regional
level. While the work on such classifications
would certainly engage UNSD and interested countries
from the region, ESCAP should play an important
role as facilitator in this process. The idea
was taken up for inclusion in the discussion on
the next revision of ISIC. Comparison of expressed
needs at the regional and sub-regional level with
those from other regions (e.g. Africa, South America)
should indicate whether these problems have to
be addressed at the international level, through
a regional adaptation or through regional extensions
of ISIC. |
| 4. |
Similar thoughts were expressed
regarding the CPC V1.0, which is currently being
implemented or evaluated by a number of countries
present at the meeting. Although implementation
has just begun, a significant amount of feedback
is expected from the implementation process since
CPC is still a very young classification with
several parts of it still being refined. The result
of these implementations will be used as input
for further refinement of the classification.
This includes UNSD, through ESCAP, capturing the
regional and sub-regional specific detail that
needs to be included and to make sure that it
is reasonably reflected in the classification. |
| 5. |
Participants also emphasized
the need for an index for ISIC Rev.3. This is
already part of UNSD's current work programme.
A provisional version of the index is already
available at UNSD's website. |
| 6. |
One session was devoted to presentations
and discussions of the use of ISIC and CPC in
areas of National Accounts, Balance of Payments,
Trade agreements and policy decision making. The
presentations and discussions provided a detailed
overview of the role of classifications in these
frameworks. Participants recognized the need for
proper linkages of classifications for these purposes.
The linkages established by the international
reference classifications, e.g. between CPC and
BOP, should be preserved when national classifications
are derived. |
| 7. |
Measures to facilitate cooperation
in the field of classifications between countries
in the Asia and Pacific region, coordination of
work on specific needs at the regional level,
as well as information exchange at the international
level played a central role in the discussions.
Although bilateral contacts were made at the meeting,
participants expressed a strong need for regional
cooperation and coordination. They asked ESCAP
to assume an advisory role and facilitate and
coordinate efforts in this area. This would especially
be important for work on and with a regional adaptation
of the classification. The Secretariat of the
Pacific Commission should assume a similar role
in representing and dealing with concerns of their
member countries at the sub-regional level. |
| 8. |
Apart from strategic discussions
on the future development of classifications,
the participants also dealt with specific technical
issues, including the treatment of new industries
and products, alternative views and the selection
of suitable statistical units for classification
and data collection. The discussion showed that
all countries, independent of their stage of development,
are trying to deal with the proper treatment of
emerging industries. This includes industries
that have not existed a few years ago, as well
as new ways of looking at existing industries
to serve changed analytical needs. While the classification
should be able to adequately reflect changes in
the economic reality, it should also remain relatively
stable to allow for sufficient time series to
describe historical developments. Ways to address
this situation were discussed at the Workshop.
All countries expressed the need to reflect the
Information and Communication sector in the classification.
There is current work on the definition of these
industries and their inclusion in alternative
views of ISIC and it is already part of UNSD's
work plan for an update of ISIC to be published
in 2002. Similar discussions took place on issues
regarding the tourism-related industries. |
| 9. |
Other issues discussed at the
workshop were requirements on classifications
for measuring activities in the informal sector.
Since this sector is very important in the Asia
and Pacific region, participating countries could
share valuable experiences. As the countries present
at the Workshop had conducted different surveys
to collect information on the informal sector,
a knowledge basis for developing and maintaining
a consistent treatment of units in this sector
exists. Possible sub-classifications for the informal
sector, cross tabulations as well as time-use
classifications were discussed. The potential
available in this area should be used with ESCAP
playing a coordinating role, on behalf of the
region, with the Delhi Group on this issue. |
| 10. |
The need for proper training
and training materials on various aspects of classification
work was a recurrent theme throughout the discussions.
It was agreed that UNSD should establish a collection
of training materials that could be widely distributed,
e.g. through the UNSD website. UNSD will try to
commit countries with existing training programs
to share their materials, so that they can be
reviewed and adapted for training on ISIC and
CPC. Participants were also informed that there
is ongoing work to update the publication of ISIC
Rev.3. This will include a revision of the introduction
of ISIC in order to make principles, applications
and relations to other classifications easier
to understand. The request for more illustrative
examples, e.g. for the definition of the statistical
unit, will be considered in this exercise.
Apart from training materials, the need for hands-on
training still exists. This will include training
for coding within the existing frameworks as well
as training for revision exercises and other applications.
The possibility of additional United Nations Workshops
on classifications to involve other agencies has
to be explored. Possible partners mentioned were
the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific
(SIAP) for training purposes, ILO for occupation
and employment and UNESCO for education. |
| 11. |
Participants at the meeting
stressed the importance of classification work
as the basis for statistical data collection and
analysis. It was noted that in many offices classifications
work only gets attention in connection with upcoming
population censuses, i.e. every five or ten years
or so. Participants noted that Statistical Offices
typically don't allow enough lead-time to address
classification issues before the censuses. Since
classification issues will have to be addressed
in the meantime in a consistent manner, it is
imperative to strive for a reasonable consistency
in the classification work. This would also allow
the building of expertise at the national level,
which is required for sufficient feedback to the
international organizations. This feedback is
extremely important for future work on international
standards in classifications. To keep the international
standard relevant and applicable to all countries,
input is needed from developing, as well as developed
countries. |
|
|
| Recommendations
for future action plan |
| 1. |
Countries will submit criticisms
arising from the use of existing classifications
and proposals for improvements in classifications
to UNSD. UNSD will make these proposals available
for public discussion through the Registry and
the Virtual Expert Group. |
| 2. |
The result of the above will
form a major input in the revision process of
classifications. All countries are asked to contribute
to this process. |
| 3. |
Plan training workshops focused
on industry, commodity, occupation and education
classification frameworks. |
| 4. |
UNSD to bring forward proposals
for treatment of newly emerging industries and
alternative views of activity groupings. Areas
of most urgent interest are the Communications
Sector, Tourism related activities and Environment
related industries (Waste management etc.). |
| 5. |
Countries bring forward proposals
for addressing regional and sub-regional concerns,
such as the more detailed breakdown of Agriculture
and Fishing activities for member states of the
Pacific Community. |
| 6. |
Preparation and dissemination
of training materials. Existing training materials
from collaborating countries can be distributed
through the UN Website. |
| 7. |
Countries in the region cooperate
in activities to measure the informal sector,
such as in the Delhi group. ESCAP will work to
coordinate efforts on a classification of time
use in the region. |
|
