Survey Methodology
Development of a small area estimation system at Statistics Canada

by Michel A. Hidiroglou, Jean-François Beaumont and Wesley YungNote 1

  • Release date: May 7, 2019
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Abstract

The demand for small area estimates by users of Statistics Canada’s data has been steadily increasing over recent years. In this paper, we provide a summary of procedures that have been incorporated into a SAS based production system for producing official small area estimates at Statistics Canada. This system includes: procedures based on unit or area level models; the incorporation of the sampling design; the ability to smooth the design variance for each small area if an area level model is used; the ability to ensure that the small area estimates add up to reliable higher level estimates; and the development of diagnostic tools to test the adequacy of the model. The production system has been used to produce small area estimates on an experimental basis for several surveys at Statistics Canada that include: the estimation of health characteristics, the estimation of under-coverage in the census, the estimation of manufacturing sales and the estimation of unemployment rates and employment counts for the Labour Force Survey. Some of the diagnostics implemented in the system are illustrated using Labour Force Survey data along with administrative auxiliary data.

Key Words:      Small area estimation; Area level model; Unit level model; EBLUP; Hierarchical Bayes methods; Official Statistics.

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How to cite

Hidiroglou, M.A., Beaumont, J.-F. and Yung, W. (2019). Development of a small area estimation system at Statistics Canada. Survey Methodology, Statistics Canada, Catalogue No. 12-001-X, Vol. 45, No. 1. Paper available at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/12-001-x/2019001/article/00009-eng.htm.

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ISSN : 1492-0921

Editorial policy

Survey Methodology publishes articles dealing with various aspects of statistical development relevant to a statistical agency, such as design issues in the context of practical constraints, use of different data sources and collection techniques, total survey error, survey evaluation, research in survey methodology, time series analysis, seasonal adjustment, demographic studies, data integration, estimation and data analysis methods, and general survey systems development. The emphasis is placed on the development and evaluation of specific methodologies as applied to data collection or the data themselves. All papers will be refereed. However, the authors retain full responsibility for the contents of their papers and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or of Statistics Canada.

Submission of Manuscripts

Survey Methodology is published twice a year in electronic format. Authors are invited to submit their articles in English or French in electronic form, preferably in Word to the Editor, (statcan.smj-rte.statcan@canada.ca, Statistics Canada, 150 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0T6). For formatting instructions, please see the guidelines provided in the journal and on the web site (www.statcan.gc.ca/SurveyMethodology).

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Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill.

Standards of service to the public

Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients.

Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2019

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue No. 12-001-X

Frequency: Semi-annual

Ottawa

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Table of contents

Abstract - Article main page
Section 1. Introduction
Section 2. Core notation and background
Section 3. Area level model
Section 4. Unit level model
Section 5. Hierarchical Bayes (HB) method
Section 6. Application to Labour Force Survey (LFS) data
Section 7. Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Appendix
References

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