Germany has subscribed to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) since 1996, posting its first metadata on the website in 1997. Germany meets or exceeds all SDDS specifications for coverage, periodicity, and timeliness, and avails itself of no flexibility options. It provides advance release calendars and summary methodologies for all relevant datasets. According to information provided on the IMF's SDDS website, Germany also fulfils all the conditions for quality and integrity of data as stipulated by the SDDS requirements. Nonetheless, a 2006 IMF Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes, finds that Germany's data dissemination regime can still improve in certain areas, specifically with regard to government finance statistics.

General Overview

According to the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) website of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Germany has been a subscriber since December 1996 and first posted its metadata in 1997, meeting all SDDS specifications as of 2000. The website discloses that Germany meets or exceeds all SDDS requirements for coverage, timeliness, and periodicity in its reporting of data, provides summary methodologies for all datasets, and issues advance release calendars for all relevant data categories.

In 2006, a Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) data module was published by the IMF and provides a relatively recent assessment of Germany's compliance with data dissemination requirements. The ROSC noted that Germany is a member of the European Statistical System (ESS), which means that its own statistical regime is shaped by that of the ESS. Germany's Federal Statistical Office (FSO) and the Bundesbank (Germany's central bank) work together with their ESS colleagues to develop statistical good practices. The ROSC found that the German statistical system is coherent and comprehensive, integrating federal, state, and local subsystems. The primary statistical authority is the FSO, which receives its principle mandate from the Federal Statistics Law. This Law imposes requirements of objectivity, independence, and neutrality. The ROSC also reported that the bulk of federal statistics are compiled and processed by the Laender (i.e. states) statistical offices (LSOs), whose work is coordinated by the FSO. The report warned that this arrangement, which is expensive in terms of overhead, may prove problematic as both the FSO and the LSOs have seen resource cuts in recent years. As the workload increases, the statistical authorities may find themselves inadequately resourced. To address this, reforms are being planned that would more appropriately divide up the statistical responsibilities of various parties to the task.

In addition to the Federal Statistics Law of 1987, the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (the German Constitution) of 1949 also contributes to the legislative framework for statistical work in Germany. The 2006 ROSC cautions that the framework may not be flexible enough to adequately respond to changes in the nature of modern statistical work. In addition to the FSO and LSOs, the Bundesbank is also involved in statistical activities, particularly with regard to the balance-of-payments data. The legislative framework governing the Bundesbank's statistical work does not include a provision requiring the publication of data. Rather, the bank has long treated the dissemination of data as a public service. Data collection by the Bundesbank is governed by the Bundesbank Act and the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, as well as relevant European Union regulations. Within the Bundesbank, the Service Centers for External Sector Audits encourage compliance with statistical reporting requirements. The bank also has a Data Protection Officer who is responsible for confidentiality assurance. The Bundesbank and FSO cooperate in data sharing effectively. The ROSC notes that although the Bundesbank's staff appears appropriate to handle its statistical duties, there has been a reduction in the level of expertise. This situation is transitional, however, arising from relocation activities when the balance-of-payments division of the bank was moved to Mainz in 2005.

The Principles

Comprehensive economic and financial data, disseminated on a timely basis.

FC

According to the IMF's SDDS website, Germany has been a subscriber since December of 1996 and first posted its metadata in 1997, meeting all SDDS specifications as of 2000. The website discloses that Germany meets or exceeds all SDDS requirements for coverage, timeliness, and periodicity in its reporting of data; provides summary methodologies for all datasets; and issues advance release calendars for all relevant data categories.

The 2006 IMF ROSC reported that Germany's macroeconomic statistics meet or exceed the SDDS's requirements of timeliness and periodicity, with no need to take advantage of flexibility options. Coverage is also in accordance with SDDS specifications. The ROSC did note a few areas where improvements could be made, however. Inter-dataset consistency, for instance, while generally adequate, needs improvement in the area of government finance statistics. Here, the ROSC found that "the links between the flow tables and the debt-stock data are not apparent" (p. 6). The ROSC also stated that "quarterly government finance statistics differ somewhat in coverage from the annual data, and the series are not always comparable over time" (p. 6).

Ready and equal access to official statistics.

FC

The IMF's SDDS website discloses that Germany meets or exceeds all SDDS requirements for coverage, timeliness, and periodicity in its reporting of data; provides summary methodologies for all datasets; and issues advance release calendars for all relevant data categories. Data are released simultaneously to all interested parties. The primary vehicles for data release are the FSO and Bundesbank websites, which also make a wide range of publications available to the public that relate to statistical data. In addition, statistical information and related publications are available through the website of the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.

The ROSC found that "Germany's macroeconomic statistics data are readily accessible" (p. 7), and went on to praise the support that is provided to users of statistical data. The ROSC suggested that users of Producer Price Index data could be provided more complete metadata, however. In addition, it found that the government finance statistics summary methodology could be made more informative. The ROSC noted that the Bundesbank is currently developing a publication that would provide greater information on the "concepts, sources, and methods for balance-of-payments statistics" (p. 7). It added that the documentation available regarding foreign direct investment transactions and their relationship to capital links statistics needs to be brought up to date.

Official statistics must have the confidence of their users. Transparency of its practices and procedures is a key factor.

FC

According to the IMF's SDDS website, there is clear dissemination of terms and conditions for the compilation and reporting of all data sets. The FSO compiles and publishes statistical results. The work of the FSO is governed by the Act on Statistics for Federal Purposes of 1987. This Act, along with the provisions of the 1990 Data Protection Act also provide assurances of confidentiality. It is autonomous and possesses the specialized institutions to handle its mission. In cases where data are subject to early release to government ministries, this is acknowledged, and any ministerial commentary on data is kept separate from the statistical product itself. Data revisions are released on a published schedule where they occur. Changes in sources or methods are announced in advance.

The employment contracts and terms of civil service appointment include the standards of ethical behavior required of staff and officers. Oaths of office are required, as is training in ethical standards. Ethical standards are available online and are fully explained during training. Standards include the United Nation's Fundamental Principles, standards promulgated by the IMF's SDDS, and others. There are provisions in place to enforce standards and penalize violators.

A set of standards that deals with the coverage, periodicity and timeliness of data must also address the quality of statistics.

FC

According to the IMF's SDDS website, summary methodologies are available for all datasets, and appropriate component detail and reconciliation with related data are provided. A variety of tools to enable the verification of data reasonableness appropriate to the particular dataset in question is available. There are statistical frameworks in place that support cross-checks and assure data reasonableness. The FSO supplies methodological expertise and advice on the compilation and handling of data through its Mathematical Statistical Methods Group, Institute for Research and Development in Federal Statistics, and IT User Services. Quality reports are produced in all data dimensions, and have been available for all federal statistics since the end of 2005. Discussions are ongoing as to the desirability and feasibility of introducing self-assessments and audits to facilitate quality reviews. The SDDS website discloses that, in Germany, the employment contracts and terms of civil service appointment include the standards of ethical behavior required of staff and officers. Oaths of office are required, as is training in ethical standards. Ethical standards are available online and are fully explained during training. Standards include the United Nation's Fundamental Principles, standards promulgated by the IMF's SDDS, and others. There are provisions in place to enforce standards and penalize violators.