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Accuracy and reliability

Contact info

National Accounts, Economic Statistics
Jonas Johansen Næsby
+45 3917 3477

jjn@dst.dk

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Fixed Capital Stock

The uncertainty on fixed capital is closely related to the uncertainty on the sources used. In addition, there is uncertainty connected with the assumptions made, for example in relation to service lives. Recently, there has been a tendency for upgrades of the figures for gross fixed capital formation. This means that one should expect a somewhat greater uncertainty about the figures for gross fixed capital formation than for other variables.

For a sensitivity analysis on the service lives used for dwellings please refer to A comparison of PIM Estimates with Direct Stock Information for Dwellings by Esben Dalgaard and Annette Thomsen. Paper prepared for the 26th General Conference of The International Association for Research in Income and Wealth. Cracow, Poland, 27 August to 2 September 2000.

Overall accuracy

The inaccuracy of the national accounts figures relates to the inaccuracy of the various sources which are used. However, the conceptual consistency and, over time, the uniform adaptation of the sources contribute to reducing the inaccuracy of the national accounts figures. In particular, the combination of the primary sources into a coherent system in many cases reveal errors which are removed from the final national accounts.

Statistical inaccuracy estimates do not exist.

Sampling error

Not relevant for these statistics.

Non-sampling error

Not relevant for these statistics.

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

With the introduction of ESA2010 the levels for fixed capital was validated.

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

Fixed capital is compiled according to guidelines in the present European national accounting system, ESA2010. Updated series for fixed capital are published yearly.

  • Fixed capital was released for the first time in 1997 according to guidelines in the former European national accounting system, ESA79, and the DB93-based industries.
  • First revision in 2001: According to the system ESA95 and DB93-based industries.
  • Second revision in 2005: data revision with minor corrections according to ESA95 and DB93-based industries.
  • Third revision in 2011: Industry revision with incorporation of DB07-based industries.
  • Fourth revision on September 15th 2014: Incorporation of the system ESA2010.
  • Fifth revision on November 15th 2016, data revision with minor corrections, measured according to ESA2010 and DB07 based industries.

From September 15th 2014 figures are available at current prices and 2010-prices, chained values.