Accuracy and reliability

Overall accuracy

It is not possible to give a quantitative estimate of the accuracy of the supply and use tables and the input-output tables. The supply and use tables collect a large number of primary data, all of which have been debugged and checked in advance. When data is collected in this way, there are opportunities to confront data from different sources and examine their consistency, and in cases where there is inconsistency, the figures are corrected. This contributes to a precision that is at least as good as in the primary statistics. The precision of the national accounts figures is continuously maintained by reconciling the national accounts at a very detailed level, and the central variable GDP is calculated from both the production, use and income sides. The preliminary supply and use tables prepared for the year (t-2) are subject to greater uncertainty than the final annual tables (t-3). This is because the data base is more incomplete here, and the figures are therefore partly based on a projection of structures from the most recent final year. The same reservation applies to the preliminary input-output tables, which are prepared for the years t-2 and t-1.

During the five-annual data revisions, data is reviewed for any major errors, which are subsequently corrected.

Sampling error

Not relevant for this statistics.

Non-sampling error

One central assumption (method D) is necessary to get from product balances to input-output tables. It is the “fixed product sales assumption” that says that regardless of the final use for which a product is supplied, it will be supplied in the same relative proportion between Danish production and imports by industry. By introducing this single, but necessary assumption, the calculation moves away from actual statistics that can be observed in the real economy. The assumption will inevitably result in certain cells in the tables being overestimated and certain cells being underestimated compared to what they would be if it were possible to measure the economic transactions that the cells represent directly.

Quality management

Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.

Quality assurance

Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.

Quality assessment

The supply and use tables are highly relevant because they are the basis for calculating GDP, which is the most widespread and important national accounts variable, as well as a large number of other variables from the national accounts. The tables are also highly relevant as a source basis for the compilation of input-output tables. The input-output tables are central in connection with the compilation of the large economic models used in economic policy planning, and for a wide range of analysis purposes.

The supply and use tables are fully consistent with data from Public Finance and External Economy, which is also reflected in the input-output tables. The full consistency between supply and use tables and input-output tables is a great advantage for users. For Statistics Denmark, comparability over time is a high priority. Thus, only the most recent year is changed in the final versions of the tables. There is a high degree of comparability with similar data from other EU countries because the accounts are prepared according to the same guidelines.

Eurostat monitor the specific methods and calculation procedures behind the compilation of the supply and use tables closely. The calculation of GDP and GNI is subject to the GNI legislation, The Gross National Income Regulation (EU) 2019/516 (2019/516). Every year, Statistics Denmark reports data to the EU under this regulation, and the reports are included in the 5-year control rounds.

Data revision - policy

Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.

Data revision practice

Revisions to the figures are only taken into account in connection with the five-yearly benchmark revisions, where we then ensure that the figures are corrected back in time if necessary to maintain consistency of the time series. The preliminary supply and use tables and input-output tables will of course be replaced by the final versions of the same when they are available, because a richer supply of source data now enables higher quality statistics.