Given the acceleration and increasing complexity of global processes, statistics which are used to inform Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states need to employ innovative information technology and new sources of data. This was the conclusion reached by those attending a session entitled Innovation and New Sources of Data in EAEU Statistics, which took place as part of the Eurasian Economic Forum.
KEY CONCLUSIONS
Official statistics play an important role for EAEU member states
“Today, the Eurasian Union <...> is a significant economic association, and plays a significant role in global economic processes. Statistics form the basis, first of all, for making economic and political decisions, and secondly, for evaluating the effectiveness of these decisions. They pave the way for further integration processes, and highlight the things that were done correctly, as well as mistakes which were made. Nothing can be done without statistics,” Tatyana Radchenko, First Vice-President, Center for Strategic Research Foundation.
“Data – financial statistics included – forms the focal point for any digital initiative. The National Bank, which has faced both external and internal challenges related to data management, is no exception. As of 2019, we have been implementing a data management initiative,” Dmitriy Velikiy, Head of the Main Department of Statistics and Data Management, National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.
PROBLEMS
The digital age presents new challenges to statistics in the EAEU in terms of rapidity and accuracy
“In today’s world, we are faced with rather large and ambitious objectives. <...> Statisticians are required to fulfil an increasingly wide range of requirements. <...> A person working in the production of official statistical information needs to possess skills in macroeconomics (if they are working in macroeconomic statistics), accounting, finance, and banking,” Galina Vasilyeva, Director of Statistics Department, Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia).
“Clearly, we’re living in a time in which we need to make decisions fast. And in order to do so, we need rapid access to data. We’re speaking about days, and sometimes even hours. In Russia, for example, we have very strict requirements in terms of getting figures for national projects within a certain time frame. <...> Rapidly calculating estimates and fast access to data are serious challenges for us. <...> And it is understood that time requirements do not make it any less important to ensure that the data is of a high quality,” Sergey Egorenko, Deputy Head, Federal State Statistics Service.
“The digital economy and the digital age in which we live present a fair amount of potential – as well as challenges – to statistics. There are new sources of data, and new ways of collecting, storing and distributing information. <...> This raises a number of questions. <...> Is this data needed in such quantities? Do statisticians have enough tools at their disposal to process, store, and turn them into regular state statistics?” Tatyana Radchenko, First Vice-President, Center for Strategic Research Foundation.
“We are at the epicentre of a big bang in data, and not just in terms of accumulated data, but most importantly, data flows. It’s everything related to social media, artificial intelligence, and so on. Everything termed the digital economy cannot but involve statistics,” Dmitry Mityaev, Assistant Member of the Board (Minister) for Integration and Macroeconomics, Eurasian Economic Commission.
“Another issue is the degree to which modern socioeconomic statistics correspond to ideas in modern economic theory and sociology. The world is undergoing transformation, and we must be able to measure these processes in time,” Alexander Surinov, Director for Statistical Research, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
SOLUTIONS
Employing innovative information technology in statistics
“The digitalization of statistics is an important development. This year, the Federal State Statistics Service is commercially launching a digital analytical platform for providing statistical data. This platform essentially provides a means for all participants in the statistical process to interact,” Sergey Egorenko, Deputy Head, Federal State Statistics Service.
“Recently, the Bureau [of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan – ed.] launched a project together with the Ministry of Digital Development to transition to digital statistical registers. It encompasses the creation of entirely digital statistical registers for all sectors of the economy, which will be filled on the basis of administrative data. This project will enable us to <...> work in tandem with government bodies to improve the quality of data, and to build up reference data which will then be used to generate official statistics. <...> Work is under way to improve the way data is collected and processed using information technology across various areas of statistics. This is particularly the case in price statistics. A mobile app for registering prices is set to be launched this year,” Jaser Jarkinbaev, Deputy Head, Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Implementing the Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) international standard
“In terms of technologies for the provision of data, there is of course the OpenAPI specification, and SDMX. This is a smart data transfer format that helps greatly improve interaction between government bodies and countries,” Galina Vasilyeva, Director of Statistics Department, Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia).
“We have created the first module for working with big data. It is a SDMX module, which we are implementing on the basis of international standards,” Dmitry Mityaev, Assistant Member of the Board (Minister) for Integration and Macroeconomics, Eurasian Economic Commission.
“We are currently working on the concept for a catalogue of statistical indicators. Plans are in place to develop this in line with SDMX requirements. We also plan to implement the SDMX format for a child data portal,” Timofey Zhigarev, Deputy Chairman, National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
“The standardization and unification of automated ways of collecting, processing, storing and providing access to information form a very important area. Of course, this is about using the SDMX format. <...> When working on data structures <...> we apply the SDMX standard not only when transferring financial information to the Eurasian Economic Commission, but also among ourselves,” Dmitriy Velikiy, Head of the Main Department of Statistics and Data Management, National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.
For more information, visit the Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical System at roscongress.org/en
