Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Structural business statistics (SBS) describes the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred economic sectors).
SBS covers all activities of the non-financial business economy with the exception of agricultural activities and personal services. Limited information is available on banking, insurance and pension funds.
Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:
Business demographic variables (e.g. Number of enterprises)
"Output related" variables (e.g. Turnover, Value added)
"Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Employment, Hours worked); goods and services input (e.g. Total of purchases); capital input (e.g. Material investments)
3.2. Classification system
Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE): NACE Rev.1 was used until 2001, NACE Rev. 1.1 since 2002, and NACE Rev 2 is used from 2008 onwards. Key data were double reported in NACE Rev.1.1 and NACE Rev.2 for 2008. From 2009 onwards, only NACE Rev.2 data are available.
The regional breakdown of the EU Member States is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS). Detailed information about the consecutive NUTS Regulations can be found at Eurostat's website
• BiH Classification of Activities 2010 - KD BiH 2010 (harmonized with NACE Rev.2) • Classification of products by activity - KPPD BiH 2016 (harmonized with EU CPA version 2.1)
3.3. Coverage - sector
The SBS coverage was limited to Sections C to K of NACE Rev.1.1 until 2007. Starting from the reference year 2008 data is available for Sections B to N and Division S95 of NACE Rev.2. With 2013 as the first reference year information is published on NACE codes K6411, K6419 and K65 and its breakdown.
The production of SBS for NACE codes K6411, K6419 and K65 and its breakdown has not yet been implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Enterprises=legal units (legal and natural persons)
3.6. Statistical population
The SBS covers active enterprises (legal and natural persons) in the reference year from the Statistical Business Register which are classified by main activity in the following sections: B - Mining and Quarrying, C - Manufacturing, D - Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, E - Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, F - Construction, G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, H - Transportation and storage, I - Accommodation and food service activities (Hotels and restaurants), J - Information and communication, L - Real estate activities, M - Professional, scientific and technical activities, N - Administrative and support service activities, P - Education (private sector), Q - Human health and social work activities (private sector), R - Arts, entertainment and recreation (private sector) and S - Other service activities, except 94 - Activities of membership organizations.
3.7. Reference area
Active enterprises in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Regular production since 2010, considering that the coverage was being extended in line with the requirements of EU SBS Regulation 295/2008. Since 2014, the coverage has been extended to entrepreneurs (natural persons). In that way, coverage is in line with the requirements of the EU SBS Regulation.
Since 2017, the method of production SBS data is changed.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of enterprises are expressed in units.
Monetary data are expressed in thousands of convertible mark.
Employment variables are expressed in units.
Per head values are expressed in KM per head.
Ratios of monetary variables are expressed in percentages.
2020
The reference period is a calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Law on Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Four-year Multiannual statistical program and Annual work plan of the Agency for Statistics of BiH; Agreement on implementation of harmonized methodologies and standards signed by statistical institutions in BiH.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The confidentiality of statistical data is regulated by the Law on Statistics of BiH (data is confidential if the aggregate covers less than 3 units or if one unit participates in the aggregate with 85% and more).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The primary confidentiality rules A and B and the secondary confidentiality D are used. Primary confidentiality is marked with A and B. Mark A is assigned if the aggregate covers less than 3 units, mark B is assigned if one unit participates in the aggregate with 85% and more. Secondary confidentiality (mark D) is derived from the hierarchical structure of the classification used, as well as the combination of data by various classifications.
8.1. Release calendar
At the end of December each year, Agency for Statistics publishes a Release calendar with the exact date and time of publication of statistics for the following year.
The principle that all users have equal access to statistical data on an impartial basis is set out in Article 8, paragraph 2, point h, and Article 19 paragraph 2 of the Law on Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Agency for Statistics of BiH consistently implements it in practice.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Annual release „Structural business statistics - preliminary results 2020“
Data are transmitted to Eurostat, either to be used in European aggregates or to be released also as national data.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Notes on methodology in publications - First release, Thematic bulletin
The methodological document "Structural business statistics 2017" is available in three official languages and in English.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The national quality report is prepared and published every year on the official website of Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The national quality report is available in the local language and in English.
11.1. Quality assurance
BHAS follows the recommendations on organization and quality management provided in the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP) and implements the guidelines given in the European Statistical System Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). More details in terms of quality assurance and all procedures that describe the quality policy in BHAS can be found in the document: Policy and programme of the quality menagment in BHAS.
The quality of official statistics products (main indicators / statistics) is regularly assessed in quality reports by calculating quality indicators.On the other hand, the processes involved in statistical production are assessed by specific process quality indicators in the quality reports and additionally through the GSBPM documentation.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Internal users: Statistical Business Register - updated with feedback information from the survey Short-term business statistics - for weighting and structure defining Inward FATS - produced based on SBS data
External users: Eurostat, international institutions ministries and administrative bodies researchers, journalists and business entities
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
One of the key elements in ensuring the quality of statistical data is monitoring user satisfaction. There is no separate user satisfaction survey for SBS.
Annual structural business statistics by economic activities, by size class of employment and by activity are transmitted to Eurostat. The rate of data completeness is 100%.
The development of variables for missing data series is planned. These data will be transmitted to Eurostat.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy is considered very good. The accuracy of the data is checked by applying the prescribed methodology, controls, as well as by comparing the data with the data from the previous year or data from other statistical surveys and additional analyzes.
13.2. Sampling error
It is not possible to calculate sampling errors because the production of structural business statistics is not based on a random sample.
Data for the compilation of Structural business variables and indicators are collected through statistical survey “Annual structural business statistical survey for enterprises” with 20 and more persons employed and for other enterprises the data are obtained from administrative and other data sources of the entities and Brcko District. Variables for entrepreneurs are estimated on the basis of data on the employment of entrepreneurs, which are taken from the Statistical Business Register and SBS data for enterprises.
13.3. Non-sampling error
There is no accurate information on coverage errors, but we assume that coverage errors are very low.
If applying computing and logical controls leads to the detection of errors on data obtained from the survey, the errors are corrected through contact with the reporting unit or by using the other statistical surveys. After that, the statistical analysis of variables and indicators is performed, which results in determining extreme values (outliers), which are listed and checked. The most important instrument for reducing errors in the data derived from the survey is precise and understandable methodological explanations. For this reason, instructions for completing the questionnaire are sent to each reporting unit that describes in detail how to complete the questionnaire. In case an additional explanation is needed, the letter to the reporting units contains the contact details of the person in charge of the survey, which each reporting unit can contact.
If the responses on certain questions are missing for the reporting units included in the survey, contact with the reporting unit will be established again, and if necessary, the missing values will be supplemented. If the contact with the reporting unit is not established, data are corrected on the basis of data from the annual financial statements, data for the previous year or other statistical surveys. Data that originate from administrative and other sources are controlled and edited.
14.1. Timeliness
The preliminary results are published 11 months after the reference period and the final 18 months after the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
The data were published in accordance with the Release calendar and transmitted to Eurostat on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Structural business statistics for Bosnia and Herzegovina are produced by application of the same statistical concepts in the entire national territory. The methodology and the definition of variables and indicators are harmonized with the EU, which creates the possibility of comparing SBS data with data from other countries.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data on structural business statistics are not comparable over the years due to the expansion of coverage of activities, the inclusion of entrepreneurs and changes in data production methods. Data for 2012 and 2013 are not comparable to data for 2010 and 2011 due to the difference in scope of activities. There was a break in time series in 2014 when entrepreneurs were included and in 2017 when the method of data production was changed and coverage was extended to the private sector from section R.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Structural business statistics data are compared to data from other statistics, such as national accounts data, PRODCOM statistics, employment statistics, etc.
In the macro editing phase and the analysis of results, a comparison of the selected variables with the national accounts is made, taking into account different concepts and definitions. In the case of significant differences, the data is further checked.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The variables are fully coherent depending on the level of aggregation by activity and classes (group, division, special aggregates and total).
In order to rationalize the production of structural business statistics and reduction of response burden, available administrative and other data sources of entities and Brcko District are used since 2017 for enterprises with less than 20 persons employed. The change of production method has led to the reduction of production costs as well as the response burden of reporting units.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Agency for Statistics of BiH currently does not have an official document related to the audit policy.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Structural business statistics data are published two times per year, as preliminary and final data. There is no revision of the final data.
18.1. Source data
Structural business statistics data of enterprises and entrepreneurs are the result of combinations of many data sources, such as: survey for enterprises with 20 and more persons employed, administrative and other data sources of entities and Brcko District for other enterprises. For Republika Srpska and Brcko District, data are obtained from annual financial statements, while for Federation of BiH data are obtained from Statistical annex of the annual financial statements. Data for entrepreneurs are estimated.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Structural business statistics data are collected in annual periodicity.
18.3. Data collection
For enterprises with 20 and more persons employed, data are collected by the questionnaire “Annual structural business statistical survey for enterprises”. For each Annex (I-IV) of EU Regulation 295/2008, a detailed questionnaire is created for enterprises with 20 and more persons employed. In the annual survey for Structural business statistics, four main questionnaires are used. In addition to the main questionnaires, the additional questionnaires were created for industry and construction, which are used for data collection for units by kind of activity. Administrative and other sources taken for the purpose of calculation of SBS variables for other enterprises are as follows:
-Financial statements in Republika Srpska and Brcko District (Balance sheet and Income statement)
-Statistical annex of annual financial statement in Federation of BiH
-Annual report on investments for SBS variables on investments for all enterprises.
18.4. Data validation
Entry, control and editing of data is performed by entities statistical institutions and Branch office of the Agency in Brcko District. The application for data entry that is unique to all three statistical institutions has got (built inn) a set of controls for checking the completeness, accuracy and logics of the data at the level of primary subject. Errors are corrected through the contact with the reporting unit or by using some other source. After that, the statistical analysis of variables and indicators is performed, through which the extreme values are established (outliers) that are then listed and verified. To determine outliers, the following indicators are used: turnover per person employed, value added per person employed, labor costs per employee, share of gross operating surplus in turnover and share of value added in production value. Administrative and other data are controlled by logical and computing controls. After that, data editing is done. Also, data validation within the series, in time and between the series is done before data transmission to Eurostat, for the purpose of detection of inconsistent data using EDAMIS Acceptance application.
18.5. Data compilation
Variables for enterprises with 20 and more persons employed are calculated based on data collected by the SBS survey, and for other enterprises, the variables are calculated on the basis of data from administrative and other sources of entities and Brcko District. Special formulas are applied for the calculation of SBS variables, depending on the data source.
Investment variables for all enterprises are calculated based on data from the survey “Annual investments report”.
Variables for entrepreneurs are estimated based on employment data for entrepreneurs, which are obtained from Statistical business register and SBS data for enterprises. Estimation of variables for entrepreneurs is done by regression method. Two coefficients are used: coefficient of number of persons employed and the other coefficient is the number of employees. Coefficients are calculated on the group level and by classes of employment. Variables for entrepreneurs are calculated by multiplying the calculated coefficients with enterprise variables on the group level and by classes of employment. Coefficient of number of employees is used for estimation of personnel costs, while for other variables the coefficient of number of persons employed is used. Variables for entrepreneurs are added to the variables of the enterprises. In that way, structural business statistics variables of enterprises and entrepreneurs are obtained.
18.6. Adjustment
Seasonal adjustment is not applied in structural business statistics.
No futher comments
Structural business statistics (SBS) describes the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred economic sectors).
SBS covers all activities of the non-financial business economy with the exception of agricultural activities and personal services. Limited information is available on banking, insurance and pension funds.
Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:
Business demographic variables (e.g. Number of enterprises)
"Output related" variables (e.g. Turnover, Value added)
"Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Employment, Hours worked); goods and services input (e.g. Total of purchases); capital input (e.g. Material investments)
Enterprises=legal units (legal and natural persons)
The SBS covers active enterprises (legal and natural persons) in the reference year from the Statistical Business Register which are classified by main activity in the following sections: B - Mining and Quarrying, C - Manufacturing, D - Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, E - Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, F - Construction, G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, H - Transportation and storage, I - Accommodation and food service activities (Hotels and restaurants), J - Information and communication, L - Real estate activities, M - Professional, scientific and technical activities, N - Administrative and support service activities, P - Education (private sector), Q - Human health and social work activities (private sector), R - Arts, entertainment and recreation (private sector) and S - Other service activities, except 94 - Activities of membership organizations.
Active enterprises in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2020
The reference period is a calendar year.
Overall accuracy is considered very good. The accuracy of the data is checked by applying the prescribed methodology, controls, as well as by comparing the data with the data from the previous year or data from other statistical surveys and additional analyzes.
Number of enterprises are expressed in units.
Monetary data are expressed in thousands of convertible mark.
Employment variables are expressed in units.
Per head values are expressed in KM per head.
Ratios of monetary variables are expressed in percentages.
Variables for enterprises with 20 and more persons employed are calculated based on data collected by the SBS survey, and for other enterprises, the variables are calculated on the basis of data from administrative and other sources of entities and Brcko District. Special formulas are applied for the calculation of SBS variables, depending on the data source.
Investment variables for all enterprises are calculated based on data from the survey “Annual investments report”.
Variables for entrepreneurs are estimated based on employment data for entrepreneurs, which are obtained from Statistical business register and SBS data for enterprises. Estimation of variables for entrepreneurs is done by regression method. Two coefficients are used: coefficient of number of persons employed and the other coefficient is the number of employees. Coefficients are calculated on the group level and by classes of employment. Variables for entrepreneurs are calculated by multiplying the calculated coefficients with enterprise variables on the group level and by classes of employment. Coefficient of number of employees is used for estimation of personnel costs, while for other variables the coefficient of number of persons employed is used. Variables for entrepreneurs are added to the variables of the enterprises. In that way, structural business statistics variables of enterprises and entrepreneurs are obtained.
Structural business statistics data of enterprises and entrepreneurs are the result of combinations of many data sources, such as: survey for enterprises with 20 and more persons employed, administrative and other data sources of entities and Brcko District for other enterprises. For Republika Srpska and Brcko District, data are obtained from annual financial statements, while for Federation of BiH data are obtained from Statistical annex of the annual financial statements. Data for entrepreneurs are estimated.
Annual
The preliminary results are published 11 months after the reference period and the final 18 months after the reference period.
Structural business statistics for Bosnia and Herzegovina are produced by application of the same statistical concepts in the entire national territory. The methodology and the definition of variables and indicators are harmonized with the EU, which creates the possibility of comparing SBS data with data from other countries.
Data on structural business statistics are not comparable over the years due to the expansion of coverage of activities, the inclusion of entrepreneurs and changes in data production methods. Data for 2012 and 2013 are not comparable to data for 2010 and 2011 due to the difference in scope of activities. There was a break in time series in 2014 when entrepreneurs were included and in 2017 when the method of data production was changed and coverage was extended to the private sector from section R.
