Thinking About Statistics

-Knowing what an organization does can be helpful.  When you know what the World Bank does, you'll know that although it publishes world-wide information, its emphasis will be on developing nations or the relationship and disparities between developed and non-developed nations.

-There are descriptions of most organizations in the Statesman's Yearbook, Europa World Yearbook and the United Nations Yearbook all behind the desk.  More detailed sources can be found in the Government Documents International Index Reference section.

-Knowing what countries comprise the membership of certain organizations can tell you where to look.  Is the country a member of a regional organization, such as the European Union?  Is the country a member of a group of industrial countries, such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development?

-Member countries of most organizations can be found behind the desk in the Statesman's Yearbook, Europa Yearbook and the United Nations Yearbook.  Most intergovernmental organizations have websites which should give you a list of their membership. Visit some by going to International Intergovernmental Organizations on the Internet--A List of Links.

-Remember that the UN has many regional commissions that collect and publish data for the countries that are members of that Commission.

-Knowing how countries are categorized by relevant organizations can get you to the right section in major sources as well as help in finding other sources.  Is the country considered an industrial country, a developing country or a least developed country?

-Some sources which present statistics by this type of category have a table or list of countries within categories, some don't.  The World Development Report, which classifies countries by income categories and region, has a table at the end which lists the countries in the categories.  Look for a table or key in various sources, or just look at the tables to see where countries are.

-Knowing how financial statistics are organized can help you get to statistics more quickly in known sources and find other sources. Many sources don't have an index, so you may have to use the Table of Contents. Knowing that GDP and GNP are usually in sections called national accounts, can help you find which tables contain the data.  It may also help you find other sources with more detailed information.

-Looking at a country page in International Financial Statistics Yearbook or the Table of Contents of the UN Statistical Yearbook can give you a good overview of how statistics are organized into categories.

Warnings and Suggestions

-Even major sources lack data for some countries.  Data collection may just be slow and the statistics may be in earlier editions .  In some countries data is just not collected or may be collected infrequently.

-International Financial Statistics Yearbook has a country coverage table in the front.  A glance at it reveals no data at all from some countries and gaps in data for other countries.

-There may not be data that is as current as needed.

        -Although the latest edition of sources are kept in reference locations, that latest year varies.  Looking at some of the         sources in the Statistics Alcove, the latest edition could be 1993 or earlier.  

    -To find out if that is really the latest edition, check IIS.  If a later edition has been published it will be there.  

    -Some types of statistics are updated by more frequent publications, see the section Current Periodical Sources.      

-Data may not be comparable because data are collected in different ways (or not at all) by different countries.

-(UN) National Accounts in the Statistics Alcove is a good source for details on how basic economic statistics, such as GDP and GNP  are gathered.  A page for each country tells exactly how and by whom statistics are collected, computed and reported.  

-For industrialized countries, a good WEB source is the OECD's  Main Economic Indicators, Sources and Definitions by Country, which  gives extremely detailed information on how each each country defines, collects and calculates most economic statistics.

-Data may not be comparable because the organization changes the way it collects, computes or reports certain statistics.

-The International Monetary Fund recently changed the method it uses to rank the world's largest economies.  The old measure valued a country's total output of goods and services in US dollars based on current exchange rates.  The new method is based on PPP, purchasing-power parity, which uses prices in the local currency of a standard bundle of goods and services.

-Organizations may categorize countries differently.

-Moldova appears as a transition economy in the World Bank's World Development Report, while it's a medium human development country in the UN Development Programme's Human Development Report.  

-Sometimes a country will appear in different categories within the same publication, depending on what variables are being reported. The World Development Report groups Bulgaria with transition economies in some tables, and as a middle-income economy in other tables.  

-Data for some countries shows up in sources you might not think of immediately.

-Many statistical publications from the European Union include the same data for the US and Japan

-The OECD, which includes only industrialized countries, has a Centre for Co-Operation with the Economies in Transition, which publishes data on the New Independent States of the Soviet Union, and Mongolia and Vietnam, among other developing countries.

-Certain publications have their own peculiarities which may make them difficult to use. 

-The UN Statistical Yearbook doesn't print tables for which there are no new data, but the table names remain in the table of contents.  This is the UN's way of telling you that the data is available in an earlier edition.

-Try to judge the level of the question. Don't use a complicated source for a simple question.  It may generate more questions than it answers.

 -In the Exchange Rates section for each country in the International Financial Statistics Yearbook there are 4 Market Rates--market rate aa, market rate ae, market rate rf and market rate ah x, as well as 2 ECU rates, Nominal Effective Exchange Rate, and Real Effective Exchange Rate.  This is probably more than most people really want to know about exchange rates.

-Economic and financial statsitics can be found in many publications which have a focus which is not primarily economic.  

-Publications which deal with social statistics often contain some basic economic or financial statistics since they are used as indicators of social development and well-being.

-When you need to get to more detail or depth of information, remember that the International Statistics Alcove contains compendia of many more detailed statistics and from many more organizations.  Walk around the corner and look.  

-Most titles are pretty straightforward.  If you're looking for more information on national accounts, just look for that title.  

Definitions

Most publications define the terms used.  Some are far from basic and have so much detail they are difficult for the non-specialist to use.  However, since organizations may collect, define or report statistics in different ways, its important to first look in the source that is being used. 

-This is especially important for sources that present data in a non-standard measure used by that organization.  For instance, both the International Monetary Fund and the European Union present some data in composite or basket currencies, which are internal accounting creations to measure member's debits and credits with each other and the organization.  The IMF uses SDRs,  Special Drawing Rights, and the European Union uses ECUs, European Currency Units.

Some recent sources with good basic definitions of frequently-used terms are The Collins Dictionary of Economics, SSHR HB 61 .P388 1993; The Dictionary of International Trade, SSHR, HF 1373 .D53 1994; and The Handbook of International Financial Terms, SSHR, HG 3881 .M578 1997.  The McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Economics, SSHR, HB 61 .E55 1994, is a good source for more detailed information and discussion of economic and financial terms.

A good WWW source for basic definitions of most terms is the OECD's Main Economic Indicators, Sources and Definitions.  

Explanation of Resource Lists

Most of these publications contain a wealth of other statistics.  I've ignored financial or economic types of statistics which will be included in later training sessions, such as balance of payments, imports and exports, and consumer prices.

IIS:  When publications are also available in the IIS microfiche set, that number is given. Please note that when the European Communities changed to the European Union, the basic number for all publications changed from 1300 (EC) to 1600 (EU), so the latest edition(s) of a publication will be at a different IIS number than earlier editions.  Only the latest IIS number is included here.

Quick Reference Resources

MAJOR SOURCES

International Financial Statistics Yearbook
IMF I61fs (IIS 3840-S2)
(1979-) Annual.
Standard source for statistics on all aspects of international and domestic finance. It contains basic financial and economic statistics and IMF accounts data for 161 member countries, with aggregates by world region and economic grouping. Data includes GDP, exchange rates, interest rates. Countries whose data are included in world/all countries' totals are arrayed into two main groups, industrial countries and developing countries, further subdivided into area.  Data for subgroups, oil exporting countries and non-oil developing countries are shown as memorandum.  Time periods in tables vary, but generally 1966 on.  Monetary values in world tables are presented in SDRs or US dollars; in country tables in SDRs, US dollars or national currencies. 

-Updated monthly by International Financial Statistics, IMF I61fs (IIS 3840-P5), Government Documents Current Periodical.

Statistical Yearbook (of the United Nations)
ST/ESA/STAT/Ser.S (IIS 3030-S16)
(1949-)  Annual.
Detailed economic data for 270 countries/territories by country, world region and economic grouping.  Time periods covered vary, but usually 1980 on, with some earlier trends. Monetary values are expressed in local currency or US dollars.  Data are shown on an internationally comparable basis, but not all data are shown for each country.

Part Three, Economic Activity, has sections on national accounts and financial statistics. National accounts tables present statistics by country for the last nine years on GDP, GDP per capita and GDP by activity.

-Updated by Monthly Bulletin of Statistics, ST/ESA/STAT/Ser.Q (IIS 3080-P2 and WWW), Government Documents Current Periodical.

World Development Report
IBRD W927dr (IIS 4530-S3)
(1978-) Annual.
Focus changes from year to year, the most recent focuses on economic reforms of countries in transition to market economics. It includes detailed economic indicators for 133 countries, with totals for countries grouped by economic and/or selected world region, or for countries with high levels of external debt; and selected summary indicators for 76 additional countries.  Time periods vary, 1970 on. Monetary values are expressed in US dollars.  Not all data are shown for each country.  Most data are shown as percent shares, change rates or ratios.

Selected Indicators for Economies in Transition Tables present selected statistical indicators for twenty-eight transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe, the newly independent states and Asia. Includes GNP per capita, GDP growth rate, gross domestic investment as a percent of GDP, average annual inflation rates.

Summary of Socioeconomic Development Indicators Tables present statistics for 133 countries and a world figure.  Table 1, Basic Indicators, includes GNP per capita and GNP average annual growth. Table 2, Macroeconomics Indicators, includes interest rates, average annual inflation.

Human Development Report
UNDP H918r (IIS 4080-S6)
(1990-) Annual.
Examines economic and social development worldwide, by selected country, world region or economic grouping.  Time periods vary, mostly 1960 on; selected projections. Monetary values are expressed in US dollars or PPPs (purchasing power parities).  

Tables for Developing Countries and Industrial Countries are separate which makes comparison difficult.  Tables are grouped in categories, which are generally the same for Developing and Industrial Countries, but the tables contained within the categories vary considerably.

Wealth, Poverty and Social Investment Table includes data on GDP and GNP per capita. National Income Accounts Table includes GDP, GDP by economic activity, consumption, investment and savings, tax revenue, government expenditures.  Trends in Economic Performance Table includes GNP, GNP annual growth rate, GNP per capital growth, annual average rate of inflation.

MINOR SOURCES

Europa World Yearbook
JN 1 .E85
(1980-) Annual.
Statistical Survey Section presents statistics by country.  It includes tables on money supply, national accounts, expenditures on GDP and GDP by economic activity, currency exchange rates.

World Bank Atlas
IBRD W937ba ( IIS 4530-S11)
(1967,1986-) Annual.
Annual report presents brief socioeconomic data by country. The table on the economy includes GNP, GNP per capita, GNP growth, GNP by category and average inflation rate. Monetary values are expressed in US dollars.

World Factbook
PREX3.15: (also NTDB CD-ROM and WWW)
Profile of each country contains a section on the economy, which includes GDP, GNP growth rate and GNP per capita, inflation rate, budget revenues and expenditures, and external debt.

World Almanac and Book of Facts
AY 67 .N5 W7 (also on First Search)
Nations of the World Section contains a paragraph on finances for each country which includes GDP and GDP per capita.

WEB Resources

WORLD

Handbook of International Economic Statistics. Published by the CIA, contains basic worldwide statistics on economic performance of major countries and regions.  Includes data for 1970, 1980, 1985 and individual years 1990-1995.  

World Factbook. Published by the CIA, contains economic information by country. It also has good descriptions of the basic statistics.

World Almanac and Book of Facts.  Available through First Search.

WWW Sources for Currency Exchange Rates.  Several sources for finding exchange rates.

REGIONAL

Economic Panorama of Latin America  Published by the UN Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean, statistical tables include GDP, exchange rates and price indexes by country.

Economic, Trade, and Social Databases  from the InterAmerican Development Bank includes statistics on poverty and inequality; health and nutrition; education; labor market; exchange rates; prices;international liquidity; national accounts; government revenues and expenditures; money and credit; external trade; balance of payments; external debt.

Facts Through Figures.  Published by Eurostat, gives an economic portrait of the EU between 1992-95, includes tables, graphs and maps.

OECD: Acrobat PDF files for several publications, including OECD in Figures, Gross Domestic Product Data Sheets, and Summary of Projections from OECD Economic Outlook. 

Social Indicators of Development.  Published by the World Bank, detailed data collection which provides a picture of the social effects of economic development. Data for over 170 countries, includes economic data such as GNP per capita.

Social Panorama of Latin America  An assessment of social development published by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, data includes GDP per capita.

Trends in Developing Economies. Published by the World Bank, compendium of individual country economic trends followed by tables of economic indicators.

STATISTICS ALCOVE RESOURCES

WORLD

Government Finance Statistics Yearbook
IMF F721 (IIS 3840-S4)
Presents detailed data on government finances for 115 countries, varying years 1979-on, with selected forecasts. Covers government revenues, spending, lending, finance and debt, GDP, currency exchange rates. Data in world tables are shown by country.  Amounts in world tables are shown as percents of total revenue, expenditures or GDP.  Monetary values in country tables are expressed in national currencies.  Not all data are shown for each country and time periods vary.   

National Accounts (UN)
ST/ESA/STAT/Ser.X (IIS 3080-S26)
Annual report presents analytical summary of major national income and product accounts, by country, varying years, 1980 on.  Data include GDP, income, capital formation, financial balances, national wealth and capital assets.  Data are often show in current and constant prices.  Monetary values are expressed in national currencies. Not all data are shown for each country.

World Debt Tables
IBRD W927dt (IIS 4530-S6)
Annual report on external public and private debt and debt flows of developing countries, including totals by world region and economic grouping, mostly varying years 1970 on, with some projections.  Most monetary values are expressed in US dollars.  Includes summary data on GNP.

World Economic Outlook
IMF W927e (IIS 3840-S14)
Semiannual report on worldwide economic performance and outlook.  Includes data on prices, GDP and consumption, inflation, fiscal balances, money supply, interest rates for selected developed and/or developing countries, developing world region or economic groupings.  Most monetary values are expressed in US dollars.

World Statistics in Brief:  UN Statistics Pocketbook
ST/ESA/STAT/Ser.V (IIS 3080-S9)
Basic statistics by country, includes a section of economic indicators with data on exchange rate, GDP, GDP per capita .

World Tables
IBRD W927t (IIS 4530-S28)
Annual report presents the most detailed economic and socioeconomic indicators published by the World Bank, for 160 countries. Includes data on GNP/GDP, private consumption, government finances, savings and investment, national income, inflation, money supply, exchange rate.  Monetary values are expressed in national currencies or US dollars.  Not all data are shown for each country. 

REGIONAL

AFRICA

African Development Report
HC800 .A1 A37 (IIS 1020-S5)
Annual report on socioeconomic situation, mostly varying periods 1970 on, with selected projections to 2001.  Includes data on GDP components, government finances, money supply, currency exchange rate, inflation, savings and investment, interest rates, and other economic indicators for selected countries, economic groupings or total region.  Most monetary values are expressed in US dollars.

African Socio-Economic Indicators
E/ECA A258s (IIS 3190-S5)
Annual report presents detailed socioeconomic and demographic indicators for African countries, varying periods 1970 on.  Includes data on GDP components, government finances, generally by selected country and subregion.  Some data are shown by urban or rural area; selected data on GDP are shown by sector.  Monetary values are expressed in US dollars.

African Statistical Yearbook
E/ECA S797y (IIS 3190-S1)
Presents detailed economic and social indicators by country and for individual regions of Africa. Includes data on national accounts, prices, money and banking, government finance.  Monetary values are expressed in US dollars.  Not all data are shown for each country, and indicators vary slightly from year to year.

Survey of Economic and Social Conditions in Africa
ECA E20s (IIS 3190-S7)
Annual report reviews economic and social situation in Africa, varying periods 1960 on with selected projections.  Includes data on GDP, money supply, prices, government finance, by country or subregion with some selected international comparisons.  Monetary values are expressed in US dollars.  Not all data are shown for each country.

ASIA

National Accounts Studies of the ESCWA Region
ESCWA N277as B936 (IIS 3250-S2)
Annual report presents national income and product account balances for ESCWA (Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) member countries, varying years 1983 on.  Includes data on GDP, by expenditure and cost items and type of economic activity, and currency exchange rates.  Monetary values are expressed in national currencies or US dollars.  Not all data are shown for each country. 

Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific
ST/ESCAP S797y (IIS 3170-S10)
Detailed economic and social data for 55 ESCAP countries, with selected worldwide comparisons. Includes data on national accounts and government finances, money and banking. Monetary values are expressed in national currencies or US dollars.  Not all data are shown for each country.

Key Indicators of Developing Asian and Pacific Countries
HC 411 .A754 (IIS 1130-S2)
Annual report presents basic socioeconomic indicators for Asian Development Bank member countries, varying periods 1975 on.  Includes detailed tables for national accounts, including GDP by sector and expenditure type; currency exchange rates; credit and interest rates; government finances; money supply and bank deposits.  Monetary values are expressed in US dollars.  Some data are shown by sex, selected data are shown for urban and/or rural areas. 

DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

Least Developed Countries Report
UNCTAD L438dc (IIS 4050-S8)
Annual report on socioeconomic development in 48 least developed countries, mostly varying periods 1980 on, with some projections to 2000.  Includes data on  major economic, demographic and standard of living indicators.  Most monetary values are expressed in US dollars.  Not all data are shown for each country.  A separate Statistical Profile is published some years which has data by country, includes major economic indicators. 

Social Indicators of Development
IBRD S678di (IIS 4530-S26 and WWW)
1996 edition is the last print edition. Concerned primarily with indicators that measure poverty, aggregate tables and country pages for 191 countries include GNP per capita.  

Trends in Developing Economies
IBRD T794de (IIS 4530-S45 and WWW)
Annual report on economic and social trends in 117 developing economies, varying periods 1975 on.  Includes data by country on GDP by expenditure item, GNP, savings, inflation, currency exchange rates, national budget.  Selected GDP data are shown by sector.  Monetary values are expressed in US dollars.  Not all data are shown for each country.

EUROPE

Basic Statistics of the European Union
ECSO B311s (IIS 1600-S56)
Annual handbook presents basic economic, demographic and social data for the 12 EU countries, with comparisons to other European and North American countries, Japan and from Soviet Union countries.  Includes data on national accounts, finance.  Most monetary values are expressed in ECUs.  Some data for selected countries are shown by internal region.

Economic Survey of Europe in ...
E/ECE E20su (IIS3210-S17)
Annual report analyzes economic performance of ECE countries, varying periods 1980 on, with some earlier trends and selected forecasts.  Includes data on GDP, GDP per capita, inflation, prices, savings, government finances, by selected country with some comparisons to Japan. Most data are shown as rates of change.  Most monetary values are expressed in US dollars. Some data are shown by sector.  Selected data for Eastern Europe are shown by industry or trade partner. Not all data are shown for each country.

Europe in Figures
ECSO E90if (IIS 1300-S129)
Basic economic and demographic indicators by country and aggregate tables, selected projections.  Includes data on GDP, government finance and exchange rates.  Most monetary values are express in ECUs.

Eurostat Yearbook
ECSO E90y (IIS 1600-S62)
Annual report presents detailed data on major economic, social and demographic indicators, with some international comparisons, varying years 1983 on, with selected projections.  Includes data on national accounts, government finances, prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates.  

Regions Statistical Yearbook
ECSO Y39rs (IIS 1600-S39)
Annual report presents basic economic, demographic and social statistics for EU countries and by internal region, with selected trends.  Includes data on GDP per capita.  Monetary values are expressed in ECUs or national currencies.  Not all data are shown for each country or internal region.

LATIN AMERICA

Statistical Yearbook for Latin American and the Caribbean
E/CEPAL S797 (IIS 3230-S2)
Annual report presents detailed socioeconomic and demographic indicators , with aggregates for selected economic groupings and varying periods; selected forecasts and projections. Includes statistics on economic growth, prices, exchange rates and national accounts. Data are generally shown as percents, averages, rates or ratios; some as absolute values. Monetary values are expressed in US dollars, except in national accounts country tables where they are shown in national currencies.  Not all data are shown for each country.  

Statistical Abstract of Latin America
HA 931 .S75
Information on the Latin American republics including Puerto Rico published by University of California at Los Angeles. Published annually, it includes data on GDP, exchange rates, interest rates.

Social Panorama of Latin America
E/CEPAL S678p (IIS 3230-S18)
Annual report analyzes the social situation, includes data on government spending and GDP per capita, generally by selected country.  Most data are shown as percents or ratios.  Monetary values are expressed in US dollars.

Economic and Social Progress in Latin America
IDB E20p (IIS 1670-S1)
Annual report on economic trends and policies, includes data on international financial flows, national accounts components and government finances, currency exchange rates, prices and earnings, money supply and credit, and various other economic indicators. Most monetary values are expressed in current or constant US dollars.

ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)

National Accounts
OECD N277as (IIS 2300-S15)
Annual report on major components of GDP, capital formation, and public and private consumption expenditures for 25 OECD countries, varying years 1960 on.  Volume 1, Main Aggregates; Volume 2, Detailed Tables.  Most data in Main Aggregates are comparative and are shown as indexes or in US dollars or PPPs; other data expressed in national currencies or as percent changes.  Most data in Detailed Tables are expressed in national currencies. Not all data shown for each country.

OECD Economic Outlook
OECD E20o (IIS 2300-S9)
Semiannual report analyzes current economic performance and short-term outlook for OECD countries, includes data for GDP growth, prices, inflation, money supply, interest  rates, government and consumer finance, savings, and exchange rates.  Selected indicators include projections to 2030. Also includes data on selected major economic indicators for selected non-OECD countries, world regions and economic groupings. Most data are shown as percents, often as share of GDP.  Most monetary values are expressed in US dollars or national currency.  

OECD Economic Surveys
OECD E20s (IIS 2300-S2)
Annual reports on economic developments in OECD countries, analyzing current conditions and short-term outlook, government policies and finance, and principal economic indicators for each country.  Statistical Annex includes data on GDP.

OECD in Figures
OECD O20if
Annual in booklet form, covers most basic statistics, includes sections on capital, money, national product, taxation.

CURRENT PERIODICAL RESOURCES

European Economy, Supplement A, Economic Trends, EC E90ec Supp.A (IIS 1600-P21)Monthly discussion of economic trends, detailed tables present annual data in rates of change, includes forecasts for the European Union, its members, the United States and Japan.

Eurostatisics, Data for Short-Term Economic Analysis, ECSO E90d (IIS 1600-P10)Monthly data on the European Union, its members, the United States, and Japan.

Federal Reserve Bulletin, FR 1.3: Primarily monthly US statistics; contains a section of International Statistics, which includes interest rates and exchange rates.

International Financial Statistics, IMF I61fs (IIS 3840-P5) Updates monthly the data in the International Financial Statistics Yearbook.

Main Economic Indicators, OECD S 797 b GEN/PT.1 (IIS 2300-P5) Published monthly, provides statistics on recent economic developments of member countries, divided into 2 main parts, indicators by subject and indicators by country.

Monthly Bulletin of Statistics, ST/ESA/STAT/SER.Q (IIS 3080-P2) Updates the data in the UN Statistical Yearbook. 

Quarterly National Accounts, OECD N277asq (IIS 2300-P8)Updates the information in the annual National Accounts.  Provides data on the main national accounts aggregates for the OECD countries which compile them on a quarterly basis.

Short-Term Economic Indicators, Transition Economies, OECD/CCEET E20sti (IIS 2300-P13)From the OECD's Centre for Co-Operation with the Economies in Transition, provides quarterly data on a range of short-term economic indicators for transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe, the New Independent States, Mongolia and Vietnam.. 

Statistical Indicators for Asia and the Pacific, ST/ESCAP S797i (IIS 3170-P1)Compiled by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, provides monthly data on economic trends.

Frequently-Asked-Questions Table

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Frequently-Asked-Questions