Norway has subscribed to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) since June 1968 and complies with SDDS coverage, timeliness, and periodicity specifications. In two cases (general government and central government operations) it avails itself of the timeliness flexibility option, and it takes the periodicity flexibility option for central government operations as well. Norway makes advance release calendars available for all relevant datasets and the 2007 IMF Article IV Consultation found the data to be adequate for surveillance purposes. The IMF's 2003 Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes noted that Norway's statistical agencies are aware of the importance of data quality, and added that all data is publicly accessible, along with explanatory materials regarding methodology and sources.

General Overview

Norway became a subscriber to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) in June of 1996 and, according to the most recent (2003) data dissemination module of the IMF's Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC), it meets the SDDS specifications for coverage, periodicity, and timeliness, as well as for the production of advance release calendars. According to the IMF's SDDS website, Norway does avail itself of the timeliness flexibility option for general government and central government operations data, and the periodicity flexibility option with regard to central government operations data. Appendix II of the 2007 IMF Article IV Consultation report found that Norway's data is adequate for surveillance, and transparency is strong.

According to the 2003 IMF ROSC, the compilation and distribution of national statistics fall under the authority of four institutions: Statistics Norway (SSB), Norges Bank, (the central bank of Norway), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), and the Oslo Exchange. The SSB is responsible for data covering the national accounts, price and production indices, labor statistics, central and general government operations data, demographics, and data on the balance-of-payment, international investment, and merchandise trade. Norges Bank handles the central bank's analytical accounts as well as the analytical accounts of the broader banking sector, as well as interest rates, foreign currency liquidity, exchange rates, and international reserves. The MoF works with the SSB to compile and disseminate data on the central government's debt. Securities data is the responsibility of the Oslo Exchange. According to the 2007 IMF Article IV Consultation, Norges Bank recently handed off the responsibility for compiling and disseminating data on the financial sector to SSB, in order to more tightly focus its energies on monetary policy.

A publication by the SSB, "This is Statistics Norway: An Institution that Counts," notes that the first statistical data was generated in Norway in 1769, and that today the SSB functions as an independent agency within the MoF. According to the Statistics Act, the SSB board is appointed by the government. The Statistics Act of 1989 enumerates the SSB's functions and responsibilities and provides the legislative basis for its independence. In its 2003 ROSC, the IMF found that the SSB and Norway's other statistical agencies displayed an understanding of the importance of data quality, and noted that both the SSB and Norges Bank have a culture of data quality, reinforced by both the legal and institutional frameworks. Also important, in the IMF's view, is the high degree of coordination in national statistics evinced by the SSB and NB.

The 2003 IMF ROSC found that professionalism is evident, and that the agencies involved in statistical work provide not only ethical guidelines for their staff but also "well documented assurances of professionalism and impartiality in their work" (p. 3). Norway makes its data available to the public in convenient forms, along with documentation that explains the methodology employed in their generation and analysis. While the ROSC found that Norway generally allocates adequate resources to the task of statistical collection and analysis, it did note that more staffing would be useful in the areas of government finance and price index data. It also suggested that data access could be facilitated by providing clearer links among the data presentations dealing with central government operations.

The Principles

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

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Both the 2003 IMF ROSC and the SDDS website show that Norway meets or exceeds SDDS specifications in all requisite datasets, although it does avail itself of timeliness flexibility options (general and central government options) and a periodicity flexibility option on central government operations data.

Ready and equal access to official statistics.

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Both the 2003 IMF ROSC and the SDDS website agree that Norway provides ready and equal public access to official statistics. In addition, advance release calendars are made publicly available through the websites of the SSB, Norges Bank, and the MoF. Data release is accomplished simultaneously to all interested parties. The ROSC found that data covering national accounts, price indices, and monetary statistics are highly accurate and reliable. However, the report noted that government finance and balance-of-payments statistical source data could be improved. According to the 2003 ROSC, "good use is made of assessment and validation techniques, but more use could be made of studies of revisions in several datasets to shed light on ways to improve the statistics" (p. 3).

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

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Both the 2003 IMF ROSC and the SDDS website agree that the agencies responsible for Norway's data compilation and dissemination generally provide public access to the conditions governing statistical activities and data confidentiality. According to the 2003 ROSC, "agencies demonstrate professionalism, are transparent in their practices and policies, and provide guidelines on ethical conduct for their staff. Each agency has well documented assurances of professionalism and impartiality in their work" (p. 5).

The SDDS website discloses that, in the case of general government data used in drafting the annual budget, access is granted to certain individuals within the MoF about a week prior to general release. This is noted on the IMF's Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB). Similarly, certain highly placed officials of Norges Bank receive one-half-hour advance access to some monetary and credit data relevant to the analytical accounts of the banking sector. The IMF's SDDS website also indicates that advance notice of methodological changes for all data categories are provided to the public and the MoF receives advance notice of changes in Norges Bank lending rates prior to their public dissemination. Although most statistical data is released without ministerial commentary, the MoF may attach comments to the annual accounts released to the public regarding central government operations and debt. The IMF ROSC notes that data revisions are accomplished in compliance with internationally accepted practices. This means that estimated data are identified as such, and a revision schedule is clearly announced.

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

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Both the IMF's SDDS website and the 2003 ROSC disclose that Norway recognizes the importance of data quality. The ROSC explicitly states that "both Statistics Norway and Norges Bank have distinctive features in their human resource management and in their statistical practices that contribute to cultures of shared perceptions of quality" (p. 3). The ROSC adds that these features are backed by both the legislative and institutional frameworks, and that national statistical data is highly coordinated. Norway provides summary methodologies for all SDDS datasets, but the ROSC suggests that some could do with an update. All three official statistical agencies provide information on the methodology used in their work, as well as appropriate component detail and information on data reconciliation where appropriate in order to permit cross-checking and provide assurance of reasonableness of the data. The SDDS website notes that Norway's Statistics Act and the Norges Bank Act both contain provisions regarding the protection of confidentiality.