United Nations Statistical Commission

This year marks ten years since the release of the last major revision of the System of National Accounts - the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA). This calls for celebration but, also reflection, not only on the past 10 years but also on the future of the SNA. Since the release of the 2008 SNA, a lot of efforts have been made by countries to implement it with support from the Intersecretariat Working Group on National Accounts (ISWGNA), together with the UN Regional Commissions and other regional organizations. The ISWGNA and Advisory Expert Group on National Accounts also resolved a number of issues related to the practical implementation, clarification and interpretation of the 2008 SNA. On the other hand, the rapid globalization and digitalization of the world economy and the need to address economic wellbeing and sustainability have raised questions in some quarters as to whether the 2008 SNA remains relevant for measuring new developments in the economy.

This side event - organized by the ISWGNA - will celebrate the 10 years of the 2008 SNA by taking a critical look at the progress made with its implementation at the country level; highlighting the major achievements in clarifying implementation issues and preparing guidance documents; and reflecting on future challenges, in particular, whether the 2008 SNA remains relevant for measuring new developments in the economy (e.g. globalization, digitalization, economic well-being and sustainability) as well as the new socio-economic phenomena relevant for the policy framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Agenda



1. Chair:
   
2. Louis Marc Ducharme, Director, IMF Statistics Department
   • Presentation


3. Panellists:
   
4. Brent Moulton, Former member of the Advisory Expert Group on National accounts
   • Presentation
5. Roberto Olinto Ramos, President, Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics
   • Presentation
6. Ben Mungyereza, Executive Director, Uganda Bureau of Statistics
   • Presentation

Background document