Affiliations: [a] Department of Business Administration, Economics and Quantitative Methods, Bergamo University, Bergamo, Italy | [b] Istat. Business Statistics University Via Tuscolana, Roma, Italy | [c] Istat. Econometric Studies and Economic Forecasting Division, Piazza dell'Indipendenza Roma, Italy
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Silvia Biffignandi, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Quantitative Methods, Bergamo University, Via Caniana n. 2, 24127 Bergamo, Italy. Tel.: +39 35 2052516; Fax: +39 35 2052546; E-mail:silvia.biffignandi@unibg.it
Abstract: The main Italian enterprise surveys are shifting from a simple traditional
data collection approach to a more complex one. This new approach is based
on survey database management involving the recasting of many data sources
(including administrative data). The reasons for utilising administrative
data are: improved timeliness, increased precision and a reduction in the
statistical burden. In our paper we focus on the Italian SCI survey
(Sistema dei Conti delle Imprese, i.e., Businesses accounts survey). A number of innovations have been
introduced into this survey over the last few years and remain ongoing.
Since 2005, final economic estimates are obtained combining various data
sources, primarily administrative data. The integration procedure involves a
number of methodological solutions. In this paper we deal with the problem
of non-response, particularly unit non-response. At first methodological
issues, research and applicative trends in the NSI (National Statistical
Institute) are briefly reviewed. Afterwards alternative means of estimating
business data using administrative records and integrating sources are
applied to the SCI survey data. The integration procedure is presented and
its impact on the improvement of final data quality is verified.
Keywords: Non-response, balance sheet data, tax data, Fligner-Policello test
