Social indicators,social surveys and integration of social statistics

Abstract

This article deals with major problems of three approaches in social statistics: the social indicator approach (sia), the social survey approach (ssa) and the integration of social statistics (iss). A number of solutions to these problems are discussed. The problems are illustrated with examples from the Dutch practice and the solutions are placed in the framework of a Dutch strategy concerning the future of social statistics.

The article concludes, descending Dutch contexts, in terms of a general strategy for the development of social statistics and for the international harmonisation of social statistics.

It is concluded that the future role of the sia must concentrate on the development of consistent time series for trend analysis relevant to the durable items behind the societal agenda. Concerning the ssa, the conclusions are that surveys fall short in measuring income, poverty and social exclusion and that the integration with register data and an integration of general and special social surveys will help to solve major problems with the ssa. Conclusions concerning the iss are that the further development of social statistics asks for the combined use of different data sources in order to increase validity, to increase authority (decrease inconsistency), to increase cost effectiveness and to enrich the information with data on interrelations relevant to policymakers.

The general strategy is summarised in seven concrete points under the headings of “develop authoritative information”, “make efficient use of existing resources” and “diminish fragmentation”. Concerning the international harmonisation it is concluded that it must focus on statistical output and not on the input side of the statistical process.