Description: This course focuses on the conceptual framework of government finance statistics (GFS) as presented in the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014), with an emphasis on new concepts introduced in GFSM 2014. The course requires that participants are familiar with the basic GFS framework and classification system. Emphasizing the integrated GFS framework, the course addresses complex cross-cutting GFS issues, such as social protection, government employee pension liabilities, standardized guarantee schemes, contracts, leases, licenses, public-private partnerships, and public sector balance sheets. It also examines coverage of the public sector, giving special attention to borderline and complex cases. The course discusses internal and intersectoral data consistency, coordination between data-producing agencies, as well as data presentation and communication with users. The format is lectures and discussions.
Target Audience: Officials whose main responsibility has been compiling and disseminating GFS and who are regularly faced with complex GFS methodological and compilation issues,
Description: This course is intended to broaden participants' understanding of the concepts, methods, and challenges of compiling CPIs. It provides an overview of the index number theory and the practical implications of choosing the index number formula at lower and higher levels of aggregation. The course covers the sources and methods for developing/validating weights; and practical applications of the methods used for sampling areas, items, outlets, and varieties. New and emerging data sources as well as new collection technologies are discussed. Frontier issues including how to better measure the digital economy are included. Linkages to the 2025 SNA are highlighted, including the related principles of scope, coverage, and valuation. The course covers the following topics: calculating elementary and upper-level indexes; methods for handling temporarily and permanently missing prices; introducing new outlets, items, and varieties; adjusting prices for quality changes; chaining and linking indexes with updated weighting structures; and meeting data users' needs to ensure relevancy. The course follows the principles and recommendations of the CPI Manual (2020).
Target Audience: Compilers of consumer price indexes (CPIs).
Description: This course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, focuses on both the conceptual framework of government finance statistics (GFS) as presented in the IMF’s Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014, the update of the 2001 edition), and on practical aspects of data compilation. Basic concepts, accounting principles, and detailed classifications are dealt with in the context of the new methodology, which is harmonized with the system of national accounts. The course examines GFS coverage and accounting rules (including accrual accounting), valuation, classification, debt, balance sheets, and the sources and methods used for compiling the statistics. It also deals with reporting data to the IMF. Central to the course is a series of case studies.
Target Audience: Officials whose main responsibility is compilating and disseminating fiscal statistics.
Description: This course discusses identification and assessment of elementary indicators and the techniques for combining them into a single overall index of economic activity to track trends in the economy. Flash estimates or indexes of economic activity bring together a range of specific economic elementary indicators to give timely overall measures of economic activity. Such measures give useful information to policy makers complementing the annual and quarterly GDP estimates (which are more comprehensive but usually only available after substantial lags) and provide a more comprehensive picture than a set of individual monthly and quarterly indicators (which are up-to-the-minute but reflect just a portion of the total economy). This course is oriented towards actual or potential compilers of short-term indicators in statistical offices and central banks as well as those involved in data collection of monthly indicators. Participants are expected to work with their own available monthly and quarterly time series during the course. These indicators will be used in the practical session to develop experimental estimates.
Target Audience: Officials responsible for compiling short-term or monthly economic indicators in central banks and statistical offices.
Description: This course aims at the conceptual and practical aspects of compiling monetary statistics focusing on the central bank (CB) and other depository corporations (ODCs) as set out in the 2016 Monetary and Financial Statistics Manual and Compilation Guide (MFSMCG). The course presents the building blocks of MFS including the concepts of residency and sectorization of institutional units, the characteristics and types of financial instruments, valuation principles, and other accounting issues that are relevant to the compilation of monetary statistics. Participants get familiarized with the defining characteristics of depository corporations (DCs), notably their role as money issuers, and how the sectoral balance sheets of DCs are consolidated and rearranged into analytical presentations with key financial aggregates like credit and money. The course also discusses the treatment of central bank digital currencies and electronic money in MFS and introduces the other financial corporations (OFCs). The course consists of lectures, and exercises emphasizing the practical aspects of compiling monetary statistics for central banks and ODCs using the IMF's standardized report forms (SRFs) and the derivation of the respective analytical presentations from SRFs: central bank survey, ODCs survey, and the DCs survey. Peer learning through sharing of country experiences among the participants is also prominent.
Target Audience: Officials from central banks and/or financial regulatory institutions involved in compilation and analysis of monetary statistics.
Description: This course covers the fundamentals needed to compile and disseminate comprehensive public sector debt statistics (PSDS) that are useful for policy- and decision-makers, as well as other users. The course introduces the conceptual statistical framework for PSDS-as presented in the Public Sector Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users 2011 (PSDSG 2011)-in the context of the government finance statistics (GFS) framework, which is harmonized with other macroeconomic statistical frameworks. Basic concepts, definitions, and classifications are covered, along with the principal accounting rules (including valuation and consolidation) that are relevant for PSDS compilation. The course discusses the recommended instrument and institutional coverage for compiling comprehensive and internationally comparable PSDS. It also deals with the impact on PSDS of some debt-related issues such as debt assumption, debt forgiveness, on-lending, financial leases, and financial bailouts. Important PSDS compilation considerations-including what PSDS to compile and disseminate-and the IMF's guidelines and standards on disseminating PSDS are also covered.
Target Audience: Compilers and analysts of public sector debt statistics employed by Ministries/agencies responsible for official public sector debt.
Description: This course, presented by the Statistics Department, targets compilers with a certain degree of experience in the compilation and/or analysis of balance of payments and/or IIP. It aims to provide a deep understanding of the concepts, data sources and compilation techniques for balance of payments and IIP statistics and their application in addressing complex methodological issues. The course does not cover the basic balance of payments and IIP concepts. The intermediate level of the course presupposes participants' familiarity with the basic concepts. The course will also elaborate on the topics being addressed during the current update of BPM6. The course consists of a series of lectures and workshops analyzing country cases with a strong data component and is designed to allow peer learning and sharing of experiences. Recognizing the challenges in compiling data in emerging areas of user interest, the course emphasizes specific topics, such as estimating informal cross-border activities and the treatment of special purpose entities. The course examines themes and challenges emerging from developments in the global economy, and participants have the opportunity to discuss how these impact compilation work. Specific exercises are geared to integrate data compilation with Fund surveillance and policy advice; and to demonstrate the analytical uses of ESS.
Target Audience: Officials responsible for the compilation of external sector statistics (ESS) (balance of payments and/or international investment position (IIP) statistics), and who are familiar with the methodology of the
Description: This course covers theoretical and practical aspects in the compilation of national accounts statistics based on the conceptual framework of the System of National Accounts, 2008 (2008 SNA). The course consists of lectures covering advanced methodological and compilation issues of the 2008 SNA and workshops consisting of practical exercises. The main aim of the course is to train participants in developing and using advanced compilation techniques in areas including supply and use tables (SUT), input-output tables, and price and volume measures of the SNA. The course covers the SNA framework and discusses how the SNA can be extended to address specific user needs using thematic and extended accounts. The main lectures and workshops cover: Conceptual framework of the SNA; Estimating output of specific activities; SUT and input-output tables; Price and volume measurement, including chain linking; Inventory valuation adjustment, work-in-progress, and consumption of fixed capital; and Thematic and extended accounts. Participants are encouraged to share their country's experience in data collection and compilation.
Target Audience: Compilers of national accounts statistics employed by agencies responsible for official national accounts statistics.
Description: This course provides participants with an in-depth understanding of compilation and analysis of FSIs. Researchers, analysts, and policymakers worldwide utilize these indicators to assess the health of financial systems. The IMF uses FSIs as a key input in financial sector assessment and macro-financial surveillance. The course covers methodological and practical issues in the compilation of FSIs, as discussed in the 2019 Financial Soundness Indicators Compilation Guide. The course takes an interactive approach using hands-on exercises in exploring key topics including: Preparation of the sectoral financial statements and compilation of FSIs for deposit-takers, other financial corporations (OFCs), households, nonfinancial corporations (NFCs), and real estate markets. Regulatory framework for deposit-takers. Accounting principles and consolidation basis for the compilation of FSIs for deposit- takers. Metadata compilation and reporting.
Target Audience: Officials at central banks and supervisory agencies of the financial sector involved in the collection, compilation, and analysis of financial soundness indicators (FSIs).
Description: This course is intended to provide participants with a thorough understanding of the international standards for the compilation of EDS presented in the 2013 EDS: Guide for Compilers and Users (Guide). It also offers practical compilation guidance on data sources and techniques for compiling EDS, as well as on analysis of these data, taking into account the relevant developments in the global financial market. It comprises a series of lectures, practical exercises, and case studies that cover: Recent developments in the global financial market (e.g., process of disintermediation, moving away from traditional cross-border investment vehicles, etc.) and their effect on EDS compilation; Implementation of the Guide and ensuring consistency and comparability among external debt statistics and other macroeconomic statistics, namely balance of payments, IIP, government finance statistics, and national accounts; Data dissemination and requirements of the World Bank's Quarterly External Debt Statistics (QEDS) database.
Target Audience: Officials whose main responsibility is the compilation of external debt and/or international investment position (IIP) statistics.
Description: This course is intended to broaden participants' understanding of the concepts, methods, and challenges of compiling CPIs. It provides an overview of the index number theory and the practical implications of choosing the index number formula at lower and higher levels of aggregation. The course covers the sources and methods for developing/validating weights; and practical applications of the methods used for sampling areas, items, outlets, and varieties. New and emerging data sources as well as new collection technologies are discussed. Frontier issues including how to better measure the digital economy are included. Linkages to the 2025 SNA are highlighted, including the related principles of scope, coverage, and valuation. The course covers the following topics: calculating elementary and upper-level indexes; methods for handling temporarily and permanently missing prices; introducing new outlets, items, and varieties; adjusting prices for quality changes; chaining and linking indexes with updated weighting structures; and meeting data users' needs to ensure relevancy. The course follows the principles and recommendations of the CPI Manual (2020).
Target Audience: Compilers of consumer price indexes (CPIs).
Description: The course will review concepts and definitions of key welfare indicators such as the consumption aggregate, poverty line and headcount rate, inequality, and shared prosperity measures. It will outline the key steps of household survey design and implementation, including sampling, survey instruments, and data quality monitoring. The training will also have a hands-on session using Stata, a statistical software for data management and analysis, to familiarize participants with its functionalities, including data importing, cleaning, and analysis. Through real-world examples, the course will cover how a consumption aggregate is calculated from food and non-food components of household expenditure, and the necessary imputations to capture rent, subsidized goods, and spatial differences in prices. Using these concepts, the course will enable participants to calculate welfare measures at national and sub-national levels. The training will also consist of interactive sessions among participants and trainers for focused country specific discussions on upcoming household surveys, labor force modules, and aspects of multi-dimensional poverty. The overarching goal would be to improve statistical capacity and create a basis for engagement on statistics that the Poverty team can build upon in future.
Target Audience: The training program on poverty measurement is specifically designed for officials and policymakers at the National Statistics Organizations (NSO), Ministries of Planning, Finance, Social and Labor Affairs, and related government think tanks of MENA countries. Countries where statistical capacity needs to be improved, and which are either in the early stages or in the process of implementing a household survey are especially encouraged to participate. This audience is targeted due to their roles in data management, analysis, and policy-making that require a deep understanding of household survey data and welfare measurement.
Description: This course, presented by the Statistics Department, is intended to broaden participants’ understanding of the concepts and methods of compiling CPIs. It provides an overview of the index number theory and its practical implications in terms of choosing the index number formula at lower and higher levels of aggregation. The course covers the sources and methods for developing weights and sampling areas, items, outlets, and varieties. New and emerging data sources as well as new collection technologies are discussed. Frontier issues including how to better measure the digital economy are included. Linkages to the 2008 SNA are highlighted, including the related principles of scope, coverage, and valuation. The course covers the following topics: calculating elementary and upper-level indexes; methods for handling temporarily and permanently missing prices; introducing new outlets, items, and varieties; adjusting prices for quality changes; chaining and linking indexes with updated weighting structures; and meeting data users’ needs to ensure relevancy. The course follows the principles and recommendations of the CPI Manual (2020).
