Standard statistical classifications: Basic principles

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hoffmann, Eivind^a | Chamie, Mary^b

Affiliations: [a] Bureau of Statistics, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneve 22, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 22 799 8076; Fax: +41 22 799 6957; E-mail: hoffmann@ilo.org | [b] Statistics Division, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel.: +1 212 963 4869; Fax: +1 212 963 1940; E-mail: mchamie@un.org

Abstract: The objective of this article is to describe a set of basic principles and good practices for the development, use, maintenance and revision of national and international standard statistical classifications (NSSCs and ISSCs). This set has emerged from discussions between representatives of custodians of such classifications and between these custodians and producers as well as users of the resulting official statistics. The combined objective of this set is to ensure that the general principles and standards of research methodology and statistics should be applied. NSSCs and the corresponding ISSCs are mutually dependent, as the existence of an ISSC which reflects the current best practices will facilitate greatly the work to revise or develop corresponding NSSCs. To serve this function the ISSC will depend on the experiences gained from the development and use of NSSCs. This is why the basic principles for SSCs have to cover both NSSCs and ISSCs.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19401

Journal: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 223-241, 2002