Analysis

Description: In this paper a model-based inference procedure based on a multivariate structural time series model is developed for the production of monthly figures about consumer confidence. The input for the model are five series of direct estimates for the indices that measure consumer confidence, which are derived from the Dutch Consumer Survey. The model improves the accuracy of the direct estimates, since it provides a better separation of measurement errors and sampling errors from estimated target parameters. The standard errors for the month-to-month changes are clearly smaller under the time series model. A second problem addressed in this paper is related to the transition to a new survey process in 2017. Structural time series models in combination with a parallel run are applied to estimate discontinuities induced by the redesign. An algorithm designed for the consumer confidence variables is developed to construct uninterrupted input series for the aforementioned structural time series model. This inference method facilitated a smooth transition to a new survey design and resulted in uninterrupted series about consumer confidence that date back to 1986. The method is implemented for the production of official monthly figures on consumer confidence in the Netherlands.

Description:

Rotating panels are widely applied by national statistical institutes, for example, to produce official statistics about the labour force. Estimation procedures are generally based on traditional design-based procedures known from classical sampling theory. A major drawback of this class of estimators is that small sample sizes result in large standard errors and that they are not robust for measurement bias. Two examples showing the effects of measurement bias are rotation group bias in rotating panels, and systematic differences in the outcome of a survey due to a major redesign of the underlying process. In this paper we apply a multivariate structural time series model to the Dutch Labour Force Survey to produce model-based figures about the monthly labour force. The model reduces the standard errors of the estimates by taking advantage of sample information collected in previous periods, accounts for rotation group bias and autocorrelation induced by the rotating panel, and models discontinuities due to a survey redesign. Additionally, we discuss the use of correlated auxiliary series in the model to further improve the accuracy of the model estimates. The method is applied by Statistics Netherlands to produce accurate official monthly statistics about the labour force that are consistent over time, despite a redesign of the survey process.

Description:

In this paper a multivariate structural time series model is described that accounts for the panel design of the Dutch Labour Force Survey and is applied to estimate monthly unemployment rates. Compared to the generalized regression estimator, this approach results in a substantial increase of the accuracy due to a reduction of the standard error and the explicit modelling of the bias between the subsequent waves.

Description: In this paper a model-based inference procedure based on a multivariate structural time series model is developed for the production of monthly figures about consumer confidence. The input for the model are five series of direct estimates for the indices that measure consumer confidence, which are derived from the Dutch Consumer Survey. The model improves the accuracy of the direct estimates, since it provides a better separation of measurement errors and sampling errors from estimated target parameters. The standard errors for the month-to-month changes are clearly smaller under the time series model. A second problem addressed in this paper is related to the transition to a new survey process in 2017. Structural time series models in combination with a parallel run are applied to estimate discontinuities induced by the redesign. An algorithm designed for the consumer confidence variables is developed to construct uninterrupted input series for the aforementioned structural time series model. This inference method facilitated a smooth transition to a new survey design and resulted in uninterrupted series about consumer confidence that date back to 1986. The method is implemented for the production of official monthly figures on consumer confidence in the Netherlands.

Description:

Rotating panels are widely applied by national statistical institutes, for example, to produce official statistics about the labour force. Estimation procedures are generally based on traditional design-based procedures known from classical sampling theory. A major drawback of this class of estimators is that small sample sizes result in large standard errors and that they are not robust for measurement bias. Two examples showing the effects of measurement bias are rotation group bias in rotating panels, and systematic differences in the outcome of a survey due to a major redesign of the underlying process. In this paper we apply a multivariate structural time series model to the Dutch Labour Force Survey to produce model-based figures about the monthly labour force. The model reduces the standard errors of the estimates by taking advantage of sample information collected in previous periods, accounts for rotation group bias and autocorrelation induced by the rotating panel, and models discontinuities due to a survey redesign. Additionally, we discuss the use of correlated auxiliary series in the model to further improve the accuracy of the model estimates. The method is applied by Statistics Netherlands to produce accurate official monthly statistics about the labour force that are consistent over time, despite a redesign of the survey process.

Description:

In this paper a multivariate structural time series model is described that accounts for the panel design of the Dutch Labour Force Survey and is applied to estimate monthly unemployment rates. Compared to the generalized regression estimator, this approach results in a substantial increase of the accuracy due to a reduction of the standard error and the explicit modelling of the bias between the subsequent waves.