Reliable, timely, and high-quality economic statistics are the bedrock upon which effective central bank policy is formulated. This specialized course provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, methodologies, and operational processes involved in **economic data collection and statistical standards**. Participants will gain expertise in key statistical frameworks (e.g., SNA, BOP/IIP), data governance, quality assurance, and the crucial role of central banks in collecting and disseminating financial and monetary statistics. The course also addresses the challenges of integrating non-traditional sources, such as Big Data and supervisory data, into the official statistical system.
Economic Data Collection and Statistical Standards
Central Banking and Monetary Policy
November 30, 2025
Introduction
Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Explain the role of the central bank as a collector and producer of official economic statistics.
- Apply the principles of international statistical standards (e.g., SNA, BPM6) to data compilation.
- Evaluate data quality using standard statistical metrics (e.g., accuracy, reliability, timeliness).
- Design a robust **data governance** framework for ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
- Describe the methodologies for compiling key monetary, financial, and external sector statistics.
- Manage the challenges of integrating Big Data, alternative data, and supervisory data into official statistics.
- Understand the legal and ethical requirements for data collection, confidentiality, and dissemination.
- Formulate strategies for improving statistical capacity and compliance with international guidelines (e.g., IMF SDDS).
Target Audience
- Central Bank Statistics and Data Analysts
- Economists and Researchers reliant on Official Data
- Regulatory Reporting and Data Governance Professionals
- IT and Data Architects supporting Statistical Production
- Government Statistical Agency Personnel
- Internal Audit and Compliance Professionals for Data Quality
Methodology
Data quality assurance exercises, Group project on assessing a statistical report against BPM6, Workshops on monetary aggregate compilation, Technical deep dives into data governance principles, Discussions on Big Data integration challenges, Role-playing a data collection audit.
Personal Impact
- Master the principles and methodologies of official economic data collection.
- Acquire specialized knowledge in compiling key central bank statistics (monetary, external sector).
- Enhance analytical skills for evaluating data quality and managing data governance.
- Gain proficiency in international statistical standards (SNA, BPM6) and compliance.
- Improve career prospects in central bank statistics, research, and data science.
- Be able to contribute to the robust, evidence-based foundation of policy.
Organizational Impact
- Ensure the production of high-quality, timely, and reliable economic statistics.
- Strengthen internal data governance and compliance with international standards.
- Improve the accuracy and consistency of monetary and financial statistics.
- Better inform policy decisions through the integration of new, high-frequency data sources.
- Enhance collaboration and data sharing with national and international statistical agencies.
- Reduce the risk of policy errors stemming from poor data quality.
Course Outline
Unit 1: The Statistical Mandate and Standards
Section 1: Central Bank Role and Frameworks- The central bank's statutory mandate for collecting, compiling, and disseminating financial statistics.
- Overview of the **System of National Accounts (SNA)** and its relevance to central bank data.
- The importance of international harmonization (e.g., IMF, BIS) in statistical reporting.
- Principles of official statistics: impartiality, methodological soundness, and accessibility.
- Methodology for compiling Monetary Aggregates (M1, M2, M3).
- Compilation of balance sheet and interest rate statistics for the banking sector.
- The use of supervisory data (e.g., FINREP/COREP) for statistical purposes.
- Challenges in measuring financial innovation and new financial instruments.
Unit 2: External Sector and National Accounts Data
Section 1: External Sector Statistics- The framework for the **Balance of Payments (BOP)** and the **International Investment Position (IIP)** (BPM6).
- Methodology for collecting and compiling data on direct investment, portfolio investment, and debt.
- Reconciliation and data sharing with national statistical agencies (NSAs) on trade and capital flows.
- Challenges in measuring capital flight and shadow economy activities.
- Central bank involvement in GDP compilation and interpretation.
- Methodology for compiling and analyzing price indices (CPI, PPI) for inflation analysis.
- Use of advanced sampling and survey techniques in data collection.
- Techniques for seasonal adjustment and managing data revisions.
Unit 3: Data Governance and Quality Assurance
Section 1: Data Quality Management- Dimensions of data quality (accuracy, reliability, consistency, timeliness, relevance).
- Developing a robust data validation and cleaning process.
- Techniques for managing missing data, outliers, and data reporting errors.
- The role of metadata and documentation in ensuring transparency.
- Establishing a formal **Data Governance** framework (roles, policies, standards).
- Legal authority for data collection and mandatory reporting requirements.
- Ensuring data confidentiality, privacy, and secure data storage.
- Compliance with international data dissemination standards (e.g., IMF SDDS/GDDS).
Unit 4: Big Data and Future Challenges
Section 1: Integrating New Data Sources- The potential and challenges of using Big Data (e.g., web scraping, satellite imagery) for economic statistics.
- Techniques for linking and integrating administrative data with official statistics.
- Policy and ethical considerations for using non-traditional data sources.
- The role of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in generating new payment data.
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