Satellite accounting in Canada

The concept of satellite accounting was introduced as part of the United-Nations-endorsed System of National Accounts (SNA) in 1993. It provides a way for national accounts statisticians to develop alternative statistics on selected topics that are not represented as such in the SNA. Examples include tourism, the environment, the digital economy, and cooking, childcare and other non-market work done in the home. This paper describes the satellite accounting concept, discusses its strengths and limitations, refers briefly to international experience and provides summaries of eleven satellite accounts that have been built in Canada over the last three decades. Extensive references to more detailed documentation are also provided.