In the CIS Region, in accordance with the decision made by the Council of the Heads of the CIS National Statistical Services, the Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS (CIS-Stat) and Rosstat act as regional coordinators. The Foundation Bureau of Economic Analysis has the functions of the Regional Coordinating Office
December11–15, 2006. Experts from the national statistical services of the CIS countries and the CIS ICP Regional coordinators held a workshop in Moscow. The focus of discussions was validation of price data on investment goods for the 2005 CIS comparisons. Methodological solutions and data proposed by “Co-Invest” for the construction sector were considered in detail. The issues of the GDP breakdown were also discussed.
December 2006. “Co-Invest” presents the results of the research realized by the demand of BEA: “Elaboration of the algorithm for resource-technological models (RTM) method used for comparisons in the construction sector in the CIS region in 2004 and 2005”. This work contains the description of the algorithm; description of the representative construction inputs and technological models, as well as data on the resource items, labor intensity in construction, and calculation tables for the CIS countries.
December 4-5, 2006. In Moscow, experts from Rosstat, CIS-Stat, and BEA held consultations with the experts from the OECD and the Eurostat. The issues of the inclusion of the CIS results into the OECD/Eurostat comparisons were discussed, as well as linking them to global comparisons through the OECD/Eurostat calculations. The experts from the OECD and the Eurostat have reviewed the quality of data and the procedures used in the CIS ICP. On the basis of this analysis, a report was drafted by the OECD expert on the methodology and practices of comparisons in the CIS region. In the course of consultations, a mutual understanding was reached that the methodological approach in question (to combine the results of the CIS and the OECD/Eurostst comparisons) will allow a full view of the CIS comparisons results in the ICP Global report. Realization of such approach is seen as a development of the Ring comparisons methodology using a two-stage approach. A plan of interaction with the OECD and the Eurostat was agreed at the technical level.
November, 2006. The CIS ICP participating countries presented information to calculate basic headings PPPs for investment goods, including construction, for 2005 as the reference year. On the basis of the submitted data, the Regional coordinators calculated preliminary basic headings PPPs; they also conducted special calculations to assess the quality of the primary data in accordance with the international methodology. The results will be discussed at the workshop of the representatives of the participating CIS countries.
October 17-18, 2006. At the meeting of the ICP Executive Board in Washington, DC, a wide range of issues dealing with the ICP Global round was discussed, including those of combining regional results using Ring comparison and planning the calculations and publication of results in 2007.
July 24-28, 2006. In Moscow, in the World Bank office, a workshop for the ICP regional coordinators was held. Coordinators from all six ICP regions took part in this workshop: OECD/Eurostat, CIS, Latin America, Africa, Western Asia, and Asia. At the workshop, participants discussed such issues as: global and regional reports, access to data; plans for data assessment, intermediate results for the last quarters; presentation of the CIS data. The CIS representatives spoke at the workshop on the necessity to ensure fixity of results, in particular to respect fixity of results of the CIS comparisons while combining them with other regions within producing global results. During the discussions it was recognized that the procedure of Ring comparisons does not guarantee fixity of regional results in full. In this connection, later the Global Office proposed to modify the procedure of linking the CIS results to global results: instead of using two Ring countries (Russia and Kazakhstan) it was suggested to use the results of all CIS countries. However, as for other regions such procedure did not appear possible, it was suggested to combine the CIS comparison with the OECD/Eurostat comparison and use Russia as a bridge country. Combined in such a way results of the OECD/Eurostat and the CIS comparisons will be linked to the global results by participation of the OECD/Eurostat countries in the Ring comparisons. The proposed solution guarantees fixity of the regional results.
May 22–26, 2006. Experts from the national statistical services of the CIS countries and the CIS ICP Regional coordinators held a workshop in Moscow to carry out validation of 2005 price data on consumer goods from the CIS list. To ensure the reliability of data, primary data used to calculate PPPs for consumer goods were reviewed in detail, including product specifications, price collecting practices, price variations, to guarantee the comparability of products. Data on about 1500 consumer goods were validated and approved for use in PPPs calculations.
April, 2006. The CIS ICP participating countries presented information (average annual national prices) to calculate basic headings PPPs for consumer goods for the year 2005. On the basis of the submitted data, the Regional coordinators calculated preliminary basic headings PPPs; they also conducted special calculations to assess the quality of the primary data in accordance with the international methodology. The results will be discussed at the workshop of the representatives of the participating CIS countries.
March 6, 2006. The CIS ICP Regional coordinators participated in the meeting of the ICP Executive Board in Washington, DC. The development and the problems of the ICP Global Round were discussed. Special attention was paid to the CIS position of the publication of results. Representatives of Russia emphasized that for the CIS it was not acceptable to publish preliminary results subject to further adjustment. It was agreed to use a correct approach towards the CIS countries. The same demand regarding publishing of the preliminary results was made by the OECD/Eurostat representatives.
February 6-12, 2006. Representatives of the CIS-Stat and Rosstat took part in the workshop for the regional coordinators of the ICP Global round organized by the Global Office in the World Bank Headquarters. The current situation and the progress with comparisons in the ICP regions were discussed in view of preparation to the next meeting of the ICP Executive Board. The experts from the participating CIS countries supplied information on the current situation with comparisons in their countries. Special attention was paid to the proposed methods of comparison for investment goods, housing, and government services. The procedures and problems of the ring comparison were also discussed.
December, 2005. On the initiative on the ICP Global Office a teleconference was held with the participation of BEA, Rosstat, CIS-Stat and the Global Office. The following issues were discussed: Ring comparisons, including consumer goods, machines and equipment, construction, housing; the situation with data collection in 2005; data sharing and software development. Russian representatives expressed their willingness to prepare papers on the methodological issues of comparisons and the CIS practices.
November 21-25, 2005. Experts from the national statistical services of the CIS countries and the CIS ICP Regional coordinators held a workshop in Moscow to discuss comparisons of investment goods. Data validation using Quaranta tables for 2004 was completed and data collection for 2005 was reviewed. The methodology for comparisons in “construction” was discussed. Accuracy and reliability of 2004 price data on investment goods were considered; it was decided to give more precise definition to the initial data on goods in several countries to ensure better quality of the regional PPPs. The participants reviewed the collection of price data on investment goods for 2005; the participants came to an agreement about several practical problems, which will guarantee uniformity of data used for comparisons in the CIS region.
October 25-26, 2005. The meeting of the ICP Executive Board took place in the World Bank in Washington. A general review of the ICP Global Round was done. A coordinated position of the CIS countries on future work was presented. The ICP Executive Board decides to establish an international team of experts to work out a policy for data access in compliance with the goals and objectives of the ICP and national legislations. A decision was made about the necessity to review in the participating countries of the Global round the methodology and practices of national accounts compilation as one of the fundamentals of the international comparisons of GDP.
October, 2005. The CIS ICP participating countries presented information to calculate basic headings PPPs for investment goods, including comparisons in construction using resource and technical models, for 2004. On the basis of the submitted data, the regional coordinators calculated preliminary basic headings PPPs; they also conducted special calculations to assess the quality of the primary data in accordance with the international methodology. The results will be discussed at the workshop of the representatives of the participating CIS countries.
October 4-6, 2005. The heads of the national statistical services of the CIS countries and the ICP regional coordinators had a meeting in Moscow to discuss the ICP progress and to prepare to the ICP Executive Board meeting. In particular, data sharing was discussed, and it was decided to apply a balanced approach and to continue negotiations on this issue in the Global Office.
September 13-16, 2005. The CIS ICP Regional coordinators participated in the meeting of the ICP Executive Board in Washington, DC to discuss the progress in the Global comparisons. One of the issues for discussion was submitting the initial data to the Global Office. The representatives of Russia emphasized the necessity to apply a reasonable approach in compliance with the national legislations in the CIS countries.
August 2005. In response to the request of the Global Office, CIS Regional coordinators considered the possibility of providing the Global Office with the individual initial price data from the participating countries. Taking into account the existing legislation of the CIS countries and the provisions of the documents which regulate the CIS ICP, balanced proposals on data sharing were worked out and submitted to the Global Office.
July 18-22, 2005. In Almaty (Kazakhstan), a meeting was held to discuss the progress of the GDP comparisons in the CIS region. The discussion was focused on the preparation for Ring comparison. The general approach was approved, and the preliminary proposals on the CIS products to be included into the Ring list were considered.
May 30 – June 3, 2005. Experts from the national statistical services of the CIS countries and the CIS ICP regional coordinators held a workshop in Moscow to validate price data on consumer goods for 2004 and to approve the lists of consumer goods for price collection 2005. The Quaranta procedure was used to validate the average national annual prices reported by participating countries for 2004. The necessary corrections were agreed upon and introduced in the country data to improve the quality of ICP calculations. Price collection in the CIS countries in 2005 was discussed; the product lists were adjusted. Due to the fact that the ICP base year was moved to 2005, the ICP CIS work was rescheduled.
May 16-19, 2005. In Moscow, a seminar was held to introduce the specialized software ToolPack, developed by the Global Office to be used for the ICP purposes. Experts from the Global Office presented the software package to the specialists of Rosstat, CIS-Stat, and BEA. After the discussion which took place at the seminar, it was recognized that some redesign of the software was needed to comply with the level of computer technology and the regulatory requirements in the CIS countries. It was agreed to introduce the Toolpack in the CIS countries as soon as it is adjusted.
May 2-5, 2005. In Almaty (Kazakhstan), a meeting was held to discuss the preliminary product list for ring comparison in the framework of the ICP Global round. Specialists from the statistical service of Kazakhstan and the Rosstat took part in the meeting, as representatives of the Ring countries from the CIS region. A preliminary agreement on providing data for Ring comparison was reached.
April, 2005. The CIS ICP participating countries presented information (average annual national prices) to calculate basic headings PPPs for consumer goods for the year 2004. On the basis of the submitted data, the regional coordinators calculated preliminary basic headings PPPs; they also conducted special calculations to assess the quality of the primary data in accordance with the international methodology. The results will be discussed at the workshop of the representatives of the participating CIS countries.
March 7-11, 2005. The ICP Regional coordinators met in the World Bank to discuss methodology and organization of the GDP comparisons for the year 2005. The CIS representatives took part in the meeting. In the course of discussing the methodology in construction, Russian representatives presented the methodology used in the CIS (the resource-technological models (RTM) method). The RTM method is conceptually close to the method developed by the Global office (basket of construction components (BOCC) approach), however the RTM method is more feasible from the practical point of view. The CIS Regional coordinators submitted to the Global Office specifications of machines and equipment, and non-market services to be used by the Global Office to compile the ring comparison list. In the course of discussion on methodology, the Russian representatives raised questions on special accounting of household production for own final consumption. The CIS experience in this area was described and a methodological approach was suggested to the Global Office
February 28, 2005. A meeting of the ICP Executive Board took place. After the discussions, the work schedule for the Global Round was changed, as it used to rely on the year 2004 as a base year. Out of six ICP regions, in 2004 the necessary work was carried out only in the CIS and the OECD/Eurostat regions. The Executive Board confirmed that ICP Global Round will use the year 2005 as a reference year. Since in the CIS region all the necessary data were collected for a comparison based on the year 2004, it was proposed to carry out comparisons for two years – 2004 and 2005 – un the framework of the ICP CIS.
February 2005. “Co-Invest” presents the results of the work realized under a contract with BEA: “Elaboration of the methodology of international comparisons of capital formation as GDP component in the construction sphere”. The results of this work comprise more precise definitions of construction materials, description of technological models, calculation
November 29 - December 3, 2004. A meeting of the CIS experts was held in Moscow. Experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine, and the representatives of the CIS-Stat, the JSC “Co-Invest”, and BEA took part in the meeting. . In accordance with the 93 SNA, some clarifications were done in order to meet the requirements of the ICP Global Round; it was confirmed that to calculate the PPPs and the volumes for non-market services, price approach would be used; the list of investment items was approved; the methodology of comparisons for “construction” was discussed; work schedule for 2005 was agreed upon.
April 19-23, 2004. A meeting of the CIS experts was held to discuss the methodological recommendations for consumer goods selection and scaling of PPPs. The presented methodological materials were prepared on the basis of the international methodology standards and with the account for the experience gained during the previous rounds of comparisons in the CIS countries. The list of consumer goods for price data collection in the CIS was discussed and approved. National Statistical Services collect and process price data in accordance with the approved lists in 2004.
