Institution

Worldbank

Year

2013

Level

Basic

Abstract

Many of the concepts described in 2008 SNA are of limited (or possibly no) relevance to many small developing countries, such as a description of sophisticated financial instruments. This is an abbreviated version of the full text of the 2008 SNA, but it still covers the most important concepts and provides sufficient detail to establish a compilation system for the national accounts. The document carefully shows what has been omitted, so that the compiler can consult the 2008 SNA if additional detail or more depth is required. This document is not a simplification of the basic theory of the SNA but a simplification of compilation practices. Ideally this should be a first step towards a more extensive coverage of the accounts but even the simplified accounts should serve to make users aware of the potential of the whole system, and how it can be used to reflect the whole set of economic transactions involving at least one resident.