This course is based on the second edition (October 2014) of the OECD manual “Understanding National Accounts” by François Lequiller and Derek Blades. The manual is available free on line: http://www.oecd.org/std/understanding-national-accounts-9789264214637-en.htm .
The course is voluntarily directed to non-experts. While it covers the theoretical definition of the main national accounts aggregates, it does it in a lively manner based on the concrete experience of the teacher. François Lequiller has been the head of the French national accounts and has a wide international experience (OECD, IMF, Eurostat).&##160;
At the 2015 Summer Budget, Professor Sir Charlie Bean was commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for the Cabinet Office to carry out an independent review of UK economic statistics. The high-level recommendations made by the report were to:
- address established statistical limitations
- become more agile in the provision of statistics that properly reflect the changing structure and characteristics of the economy. One of the specific recommendations here relates to the new research centre
- refocus the culture of ONS towards better meeting user needs
- make the most of existing and new data sources and the technologies for dealing with them. This includes recommendations for use of admin data and for the creation of the data hub
- become better at understanding and interrogating data
- strengthen the governance framework so as to help support the production of high-quality economic statistics
To support these aims, the Economic Statistics Working Group was set up; comprising nominees from the Royal Economic Society (RES), the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The group has a remit to improve capability in economic statistics and are introducing a programme of activities aimed at improving quality and understanding.
The working group has initiated a programme of training courses, aimed at policy makers, economists, statisticians, analysts and those working in finance and business. The courses are open to government, academia and the private sector.&##160;
