Comparability

Comparability - geographical

Internationally, comparability between Danish and foreign supply and use tables is very good within the EU countries, due to the common manual ESA2010, which all countries follow, and due to the EU's work within the framework of the GNI legislation. Of course, not all EU countries have equally good primary data, so in this light there may be challenges in an international comparison within the EU. International comparisons that go beyond the EU borders can be based on the fact that many countries follow the UN manual for national accounts SNA08.

International comparisons of IO tables are less clear-cut than for supply and use tables. Again, this is most obvious within the EU, but here the countries have made different choices with regard to the central model assumption. Some countries, such as Denmark, only produce tables based on method D, which provides an industryindustry matrix, while the majority of countries follow the EU's instructions to compile productproduct matrices. Outside the EU, many countries also follow the SNA and the UN manual for compiling supply and use tables and input-output tables, so there is a considerable degree of comparability between countries.

Comparability over time

Statistics Denmark has prepared very detailed supply and use tables for the period from 1966 onwards. Since then, new manuals have been published (SNA68, SNA95, SNA08 and SNA25), and new industry classifications have been implemented several times. Furthermore, the Danish data material has been revised significantly a number of times. Each time, an attempt has been made to implement all changes in the most recent years and as far back in time as possible given the resources available. Each time, it has been necessary to leave some of the oldest supply and use tables unrevised, because it has not been possible to go all the way back. Data and method revision on tables with 2350 products and 117 industries requires months of work by a number of people if the quality of the tables is to be good. At present, the tables from 2014 onwards are fully consistent with the latest table from 2022. In previous years' prices, the tables from 2015 to 2022 are consistent.

Over time, input-output tables have been continuously made as far back in time as the supply and use tables have been consistent with the latest edition. In connection with the revisions where a number of the oldest supply and use tables have had to be abandoned, revisions have been made back in time at the input-output table level. For 2014 onwards, the input-output tables are now based on the supply and use tables of the national accounts, while the tables for the period 1966 to 2013 have been obtained by adapting an older set of tables to new classifications and definitions, while attempts have been made to correct known data problems. This has enabled us to maintain a consistent series of input-output tables from 1966 up to the latest year. The national accounts totals, which represent parts of the goods and services cycle, including e.g. GDP, have been derived from these reversed input-output tables. For these totals, which are published in the Statbank and reported to Eurostat, there is thus full consistency with the input-output tables.

Please note that for the period 1966-2013, the older set of tables was already the result of adjustments due to earlier changes in classifications, methods and data revisions. Thus, for the period 1966-2013, there is a greater distance from the primary statistical data to the input-output tables in their current form, which implies some uncertainty in the figures. The uncertainty in the tables must be expected to be greater the earlier the years considered.

Coherence - cross domain

Since the industry classification of the input-output tables is the same as that of the national accounts, which is derived from the Danish Industry Code DB07, the values of the tables can be compared with other statistics compiled by industry. However, comparisons with other statistics at a detailed industry level will often show deviations, partly due to differences in the definition of variables, partly due to the national accounts' desire for calendar year delimitation and its requirement for total coverage of economic activity.

We aim is to ensure a very good correlation between the input-output tables and the Green National Accounts, which are published by Statistics Denmark. Based on the SEEA manual, accounts are drawn up for energy, emissions, waste, water consumption, etc. that can be directly linked to the Danish input-output tables and contribute to a wide range of environmental and economic analyses, including the calculation of the climate footprint.

Coherence - internal

Please refer to 3.4 (S.18.4)