ASPECTS OF ESTIMATION PROCEDURES AT EUROSTAT

WITH SOME EMPHASIS IN THE OVER SPACE HARMONISATION


 

 

        Tzavidis Nikolaos
        Supervisor: I. Panaretos

 

        CHAPTER 1
        INTRODUCTION

        1.1 Introduction
        1.2 Micro-Aggregation Techinques
        1.3 Backward Calculation Techniques

        1.4 Sampling Procedures in Eurostat and in Member States

  

        CHAPTER 2

        MICRO-AGGREGATION TECHNIQUES

        2.1 Introduction
        2.2 Confidentiality Techniques
        2.3 Micro-Aggregation Methods

        2.4 Methods Applicable to Quantitative Variables

                2.4.1.1 Sorting by a Single Axis

                2.4.1.2 Sorting by the First Principal Component

                2.4.1.3 Sum of Z-Scores

            2.4.2 Classification Methods

                2.4.2.1 Adaptation of Hanani's Algorithm

                           The n x k-Grouping Problem in R

                           The 2 x k-Grouping Problem in R

                           The Hyperplane in the 2 x k-Grouping Problem in R

                           The Algorithm

                2.4.2.2 Adaptation of Ward's Method

            2.4.3 Individual Methods

                2.4.3.1 Individual Ranking Method

                            Estimation of Variance Loss Due to Micro-Aggregation

                            by the Individual Ranking Method

                2.4.3.2 Weighted Moving Average Method

        2.5 Methods Applicable to Qualitative Variables

            2.5.1 The Method of the Snake

            2.5.2 Calculation of Entropy

            2.5.3 Similarity of Distributions

        2.6 Evaluation Criteria

            2.6.1 Measuring Criteria of Data Confidentiality

                2.6.1.1 Value of the Threshold "k"

                2.6.1.2 Concetration or Predominance Rule

                2.6.1.3 Indicator of Data Perturbation Before and After Micro-Aggregation

            2.6.2 Criteria for Evaluating the Maintenance of the Structure

                2.6.2.1 Use of Summary Statistics

                2.6.2.2 Loss of Information Criteria

                2.6.2.3 Further Processing Ability

        2.7 Procedures in Eurostat and in European Countries

        2.8 Concluding Remarks

   

        CHAPTER 3

        BACKWARD CALCULATION TECHNIQUES

        3.1 Introduction

        3.2 The Introduction of EURO, the 1993 System of National Accounts Regulation and

              the 1995 European System of Accounts Regulation. Three Cases Where Backward

              Calculation is Required

            3.2.1 Backward Calculation Due to the Introduction of EURO

                    The Problem

                    Solution

            3.2.2 Backward Calculation Due to the Introduction of ESA (European System of Accounts)

                    1995 Regulation and SNA (System of National Accounts) 1993 Regulation

                    The SNA Problem

                    The ESA Problem

        3.3 An Overview of Backward Calculation Techniques

            3.3.1 Annual Backward Calculation

                    Full Revision Method

                    Revision by Superposition of Corrections

                    Growth Rates Method

                    Simple Proportional Method

            3.3.2 Benchmark Years and Interpolation

                    The Benchmark Years

                    Interpolation

                    Full Benchmark Years

                    Layer Correction

        3.4 The Netherlands Case

        3.5 The French Case

            3.5.1 The Kalman Filter

                    The State-Space Represantation of a Dynamic System - Maintained Assumptions

                    Derivation of the Kalman Filter

                    Starting the Recursion

                    Forecasting yt

                    Updating the Inference About ξ t

                    Producing a Forecast of ξ t+1

                    Summary of the Kalman-Filter Process and Remarks

                    Using the Kalman-Filter to Evaluate the Likelihood Function-Asymptotic Properties

                    of MLE Estimators

                    Smoothing

                    The French Model

                    Software for the French Retropolation Method

        3.6 Cocnluding Remarks

         

        CHAPTER 4

        ASPECTS OF SAMPLING PROCEDURES

        4.1 Introduction

        4.2 Stratified Random Sampling

            4.2.1 Description of the Method

            4.2.2 Proportionate Sampling of Elements. Properties of the Estimators 

                    - Variance of the Estimators

            4.2.3 Disproportionate Sampling of Optimum Allocation

            4.2.4 Forming the Strata

            4.2.5 Increasing the Efficiency of the Sample

        4.3 Systematic Sample

            4.3.1 Variance of the Estimated Mean in Systematic Sampling

            4.3.2 Stratified Systematic Sampling

        4.4 Cluster Sampling

            4.4.1 Sub-Sampling With Units of Equal Size

            4.4.2 Two-Stage Sampling

            4.4.3 Three-Stage Sampling

            4.4.4 Stratified Sampling of the Units in the Two-Stage Sampling

            4.4.5 Sub-Sampling With Units of Unequal Size

                    Units Selected With Equal Probabilities

                    Units Selected With Probability Proportional to a Measure of Size

                    Units Selected With Probability Proportional to a Measure of Size Ration to Size Estimate

            4.4.6 Stratified Sampling of the Units in Two-Stage Cluster Sampling With Unequal Clusters

            4.4.7 Application of Multistage Cluster Sampling in European Surveys

        4.5 Post Stratification or Stratification After Selection

            4.5.1 Post Stratified Non-Response Adjustment

        4.6 Raking Ratio Adjustment

            4.6.1 Raking Non-Response Adjustment

        4.7 Sample Surveys in the European Union

            4.7.1 The Labour Force Survey (LFS)

                4.7.1.1 The Objectives of the Labour Force Survey

                4.7.1.2 The Developmente of the European Union Labour Force Survey - Attempts

                           for the Harmonisation of the Concepts

                4.7.1.3 Technical Features of the European Union Labour Force Survey

                4.7.1.4 Sample and Weighting Procedures in Member States and Greece Concerning the 

                           Labour Force Survey

            4.7.2 The European Community Household Panel (ECHP)

                4.7.2.1 Objectives of the European Community Household Panel

                4.7.2.2 Outline of the Design

                           Multi-Dimensional Coverage

                           Cross-Sectional Comparability

                           Longitudinal or Panel Design

                4.7.2.3 Sampling Aspects of the First Wave

                           Sampling Frame Sampling Size and Allocation

                           Sample Design and Selection

                4.7.2.4 Recommendations for Cross-Sectional Weighting

                           A Step By Step Procedure

                           Desing Weights

                           Non - Response Weight

                           Weights Correcting the Distribution of Households

                           Weights Correcting the Distribution of Persons

                           Final Weights

                4.7.2.5 Second and Subsequent Waves of the ECHP

                4.7.2.6 Longitudinal Weighting

            4.7.3 The Household Budget Survey (HBS)

                4.7.3.1 The Objectives of the Household Budget Surveys

                4.7.3.2 Attempts for the Harmonisation of the Concepts

                4.7.3.3 Sampling Aspects of the Household Budget Survey

                4.7.3.4 Recommendations Concerning the Weighting Procedures

                4.7.3.5 Procedures Followed in Greece Concerning the Household Budget Survey

        4.8 Concluding Remarks

                    

        CHAPTER 5

        CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER RESEARCH

        5.1 Conclusions

        BIBLIOGRAPHY