Poland became a subscriber to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) in April 1996 and started meeting the IMF's SDDS requirements on March 2, 2000. Based on information provided on the IMF's SDDS website, Poland meets SDDS requirements for periodicity, coverage, and timeliness of data, although it does employ the flexibility option for timeliness for general government (public sector) and central government operations. Further, Poland also fulfills SDDS requirements, where applicable, for the access dimension. Information on the IMF's SDDS website, however, shows that Poland does not meet all SDDS requirements for integrity of data, as several data categories lack provisions for information about revisions and advance notice of major changes in methodology. With regard to the quality of data, information provided on the IMF's SDDS website indicates that Poland largely observes the SDDS requirements. However, there is no information on dissemination of documentation on methodology for the data on unemployment and central government debt; and several data categories make no mention of statistical frameworks that support statistical cross-checks.

General Overview

Poland subscribed to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) on April 17, 1996, and met all the SDDS requirements at the time of subscription on March 2, 2000. In a 2003 Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) data module to review Poland's data dissemination practices against the SDDS, the IMF found that the country generally meets the prerequisites for high-quality data. Further the European Union (EU) has concluded that Poland's statistical data are closely in line with EU's and international standards.

Poland has three official institutions responsible for compiling and disseminating the SDDS prescribed data categories. In its 2003 report, the IMF notes that staff in all three statistical institutions is well-trained and of high-quality. The law ensures that data compilation efforts are conducted on an impartial and transparent basis and that the figures are published to all stakeholders. The staff of the data agencies abides by ethical standards which are maintained by codes of conduct that have recently been updated. The Central Statistical Office (CSO) covers data on the following data categories: national accounts, production index, labor market, price indices, merchandise trade, and population. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) oversees and disseminates data on general government operations, central government operations, and central government debt. The National Bank of Poland (NBP) is responsible for the analytical accounts of the banking sector, the analytical accounts of the central bank, interest rates, balance of payments, international investment position, external debt, and the data template on international reserves and foreign currency liquidity.

The IMF's SDDS website notes that the legal basis for the generation and dissemination of Poland's statistics are found in the following laws: (1) Law on Official Statistics, 1995; (2) the Public Finance Act; (3) the Act on the National Bank of Poland of 1997; (4) and the Banking Act of 1997. The IMF, in its 2003 report deemed Poland's legal and institutional frameworks sound. The IMF's 2003 ROSC recommended that Poland establish an independent body of users of statistics, with representatives from both public and private institutions, to provide input on macroeconomic statistics. Two other recommendations were to: (a) consider the establishment of a committee that would assist in responding to concerns raised by stakeholders and improve the understanding of statistical issues; and (b) raise awareness with regard to the harmonization with EU statistical practices.

The Principles

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

FC

The IMF's SDDS website discloses that Poland meets or exceeds most SDDS requirements for coverage, periodicity, and timeliness; however, the country avails itself of the permissible flexibility option with regards to timeliness for general government (public sector operations) and central government operations.

Ready and equal access to official statistics.

FC

Where applicable, Poland issues advance release calendars for all relevant data categories. In addition, data are released simultaneously to all interested parties, according to the IMF's SDDS website.

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

CP

According to information provided on the IMF's SDDS website, dissemination of the terms and conditions for all data categories are clearly stated. Further, confidentiality of individually identifiable information is stated for all data categories, with the exception of share price index of the stock market. Identification of internal government access to data before release and identification of ministerial commentary are also provided for all data categories on the IMF's SDDS website. However, the website indicates that for fiscal sector data, major changes in methodology are announced only at the time of the change. Also, for labor market data on wages/earnings, there is no information provided on advance notice of major changes in methodology.

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

CP

According to the IMF's SDDS website, documents related to methodology and sources used in preparing statistics are available to the public for all data categories except for unemployment and central government debt. Similarly, summary methodologies are provided for all data categories. Further, the SDDS website discloses that most data categories meet the SDDS requirement for dissemination of component detail. However, there is no reference of statistical frameworks that support cross-checks for entry points such as external debt and analytical accounts of the banking sector.