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, Innovations, Science, Technologies and Investments Department
Structural Business Statistics Unit
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Ilica 3
10 000 Zagreb
Croatia
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
21 February 2023
2.2. Metadata last posted
21 February 2023
2.3. Metadata last update
21 February 2023
3.1. Data description
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
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.
Statistical unit used is an Enterprise according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 of 15 March 1993 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community and other methodological guidelines.
3.6. Statistical population
It includes all active enterprises that are, according to their main activity, classified in sections B – J and L – N as well as in division 95 of section S.
Also it includes active enterprises classified in parts of section K (classes 6411 and 6419 as well as in division 65).
We include branches of foreign enterprises and do not exclude activities abroad of enterprises registered in Croatia (for example construction site).
3.7. Reference area
Croatia.
Regional datasets on NUTS 2 level.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2008-2020
Data from 2019 onwards are not comparable with data from previous years. Until the 2018 reference year, legal and natural persons were used as the equivalent of enterprise, while since 2019, the definition of enterprise according to the EU methodology has been applied.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of enterprises and number of local units are expressed in units.
Monetary data are expressed in millions of €.
Employment variables are expressed in units.
Per head values are expressed in thousands of € per head.
Ratios are expressed in percentages.
2020
Reference period - Calendar year
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 Official statistics Act (OG. No. 25/20) Ordinance on the Protection of Statistical Data Ordinance on access to confidential statistical data Ordinance on Conditions and Terms of Using Confidential Data for Scientific Purposes
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Restricted from publication
8.1. Release calendar
Statistical release dates can be found in Release calendar on CBS Website
In accordance with the provisions of Official statistics Act, Ordinance on access to confidential statistical data and Ordinance on Conditions and Terms of Using Confidential Data for Scientific Purposes.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
The data are sent to Eurostat, either to be used in European aggregates or to be released also as national data.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
All documentation on the methodology is available in Croatian and English.
Notes on methodology on paper publications - First release; Notes on methodology on electronic publications - electronic version of First release: https://podaci.dzs.hr/2022/en/29181
Internal permanent analysis and evaluation of input data quality, the ongoing analysis and evaluation of quality results, evaluation of the production process with suggestions for improving it.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Generally the data are of high quality, especially those for key variables.
CBS regularly analyses the SBS survey results and evaluates the quality of used data sources and, if necessary:
- makes a proposal to the Financial Agency for improvement and changes to the content of the Annual Financial Report form, Instructions for filling in or input logical calculation controls
-makes proposals for improving the quality and changing the content of data taken from other statistical and administrative sources
- improves its own production process by calibrating data editing procedures and formulas for variable calculations, and model estimation and imputation
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Internal users: Statistical business register - updated with feedback information from Structural Business Statistics; Inward FATS - generated from Structural Business Statistics results; Short-term business statistics - value added for weighting and structure defining; Industry statistics - value added and production value for weighting and structure defining; Distributive trade statistics - turnover for weighting; Construction statistics - value added for weighting.
External users:
Ministries and government bodies - on request;
scientists and researchers - on request;
businesses - on request;
international organisations - on request;
journalists - on request.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Satisfaction survey is not carried out.
12.3. Completeness
The survey covers all the variables required by Eurostat regulations and guidelines (Completeness in a percentage of the number of required cells = 100%).
13.1. Accuracy - overall
SBS data are generally of high quality, especially those for key variables.
Possible Statistical business register data source errors (coverage, activities, turnover, number of employees quality) are low. Possible Annual financial report of entrepreneur data source errors (quality of accounting data) are low. Possible Annual report on gross investments in fixed assets data source errors (quality of statistical source) are low. Possible Annual report on investments in environmental protection and expenditures on goods and services in environment data source errors (quality of statistical source) are medium. Error of estimate method (quality of estimates) is low.
13.2. Sampling error
Not relevant. CBS conducts the census survey fully based on available administrative and statistical sources.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling error occurs as coverage error, measurement error, processing error and model assumption error.
Coverage error - there is no exact information about out-of-scope units, but we assume that the number of out of-scope units and units with wrong NACE code is very low. Statistical Business Register continuously checks relevant administrative sources (administrative registers, Crafts Register).
Measurement errors - checks are conducted at data source level (Financial Agency, other CBS departments and units). In order to reduce errors, the SBS Unit delivers suggestions for improving checks and methodological instructions to data source owners.
Processing errors - data entry and processing errors made at data source level are removed with automatic data editing process. Possible errors due to inadequate automatic data-editing process (overediting).
Model assumption error - in some cases there are possible errors due to inadequate application of weight for assessment.
14.1. Timeliness
Provisional data are published with 11 months delay, and the final with 19 months delay from the end of the reporting period.
14.2. Punctuality
Data transmitted on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Regional data at the NUTS 2 level are comparable.
Since data are prepared according to regulations which refer to structural business statistics, they are comparable to the data of other EU Member States.
15.2. Comparability - over time
2008-2018
2019-2020
Data for 2019 are not comparable with data from previous years due to the enlargement of the coverage of active enterprises (since 2019, those natural persons who are self-employed, and whose activity is determined on the basis of income tax returns in a lump-sum are also included). In addition, until the 2018 reference year, legal and natural persons were used as the equivalent of enterprise, while since 2019, the definition of enterprise according to the EU methodology has been applied.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
SBS variables Number of enterprises, Turnover and Number of persons employed are completely consistent with the Business register data.
SBS variables Number of persons employed and Number of employees are completely consistent with the Business Demography data.
Turnover in Annex VIII is completely consistent with Turnover in Annex I. SBS variable Value added is in correlation with National account result for same population.
Other comparisons were not undertaken.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data for different aggregates inside SBS are completely consistent.
Costs of statistical data production are minimal and refer mainly to data source check and data editing, considering that input data are taken over from existing administrative and statistical sources.
The burden on Reporting units has been minimised by using administrative sources. The burden is present only in cases when data check is required by direct contacting with reporting units.
17.1. Data revision - policy
There is no special revision policy for SBS, but in case of need, we are obliged to act in accordance with the General revision policy of the CBS.
Methodology and preliminary data compilation process is identical to the one for final data production. So, in both cases, the same methodology and sources are used. The only difference is that, due to the longer available period, for final data more control and checks of administrative sources are carried out, including the checking with units, which improves the final data quality.
18.1. Source data
SBS data are based on administrative and statistical sources (all produced variables can be taken or calculated directly from administrative or statistical sources): - The annual financial report for accounting and statistical purposes, taken from Financial agency; micro data on annual level; population are legal units that are obliged to deliver The annual financial report in accordance with Accounting Act (it is about 50% of units but they take 90% of total turnover) - Report of receipts, income tax, surtax and contributions for compulsory insurance (JOPPD form) taken from Tax administration; micro data on monthly level; population are all legal units - Survey population taken from Statistical Business Register; micro data on annual level; population are all active legal units from SBS coverage - results from INV-P statistical survey “Annual report on gross investments in fixed assets” conducted by National accounts sector of CBS; micro data on annual level; sample survey - results from IDU-OK statistical survey “Annual report on investments in environmental Protection and expenditures on goods and services in environment” conducted by Environmental statistics department; micro data on annual level; sample survey.
Frequency to which the used administrative and statistical data sources are updated is very good.
Administrative and statistical data are subject to several revisions with increasing degree of completeness because the SBS team is obliged to be involved in the revision process of all sources.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual data collection
18.3. Data collection
Data are collected from existing administrative and statistical sources.
The principal data source in sections B – J, L – N and P – S is the Annual Financial Report of Entrepreneurs obtained from the Financial Agency. It contains built-in simple logical and calculation controls as well as methodological ones, according to Croatian and International accounting standards. Additional data sources are other financial reports, records of the Tax Administration Office (profit and income taxes). After entering the data and matching it with SBR, processing with SBS internal controls begins. For larger companies (about first 1000) methodological control is done by our methodologists, and others are treated by our data-editing software.
Data in section K are obtained from the Croatian National Bank and the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency. After receiving the data, CBS performs a plausibility check and contacts the data source owners if necessary.
Statistical sources used are Annual Report on Gross Investment in Fixed Assets (INV-P form) and Investments in Environmental Protection and Expenditure on Goods and Services in Environment (IDU-OK form).
Annual Report on Gross Investment in Fixed Assets is a threshold survey conducted using the CAWI method. Statistical units who had gross investments above the threshold in the first three quarters according to the available data of the Financial Agency are included.
Investments in Environmental Protection and Expenditure on Goods and Services in Environment is a threshold survey conducted using the CAWI method. All statistical units that had more than 90% of output, investments or expenses in environmental protection were included.
The SBS unit permanently tests and analyzes the quality of corresponding data from other used CBS surveys (Statistical business register data, Statistical survey " Annual Report on Gross Investment in Fixed Assets " and Statistical survey " Investments in Environmental Protection and Expenditure on Goods and Services in Environment ") as well as their impact on SBS results.
18.4. Data validation
Phase1. The collection phase and the input control of the annual financial reports is carried out by FINA (State Agency which collects the Annual financial reports). Validation rules for input control are prepared by FINA in cooperation with CBS. Phase2. Analyzing the accounting micro data and performing plausibility checks by contacting directly the reporting units (carried out by CBS). Phase3. Analyzing other administrative and statistical micro data and performing plausibility checks by contacting directly the sources (carried out by CBS). Phase4. Automated data editing procedures incorporated in existing CBS IT tool for production of SBS statistics (performed by CBS). Phase5. Additional checking and data validation of the results (carried out by CBS). Phase6. Checking the data set using Eurostat Edamis Input hall (performed by CBS).
18.5. Data compilation
The part of units (that are not obliged to pay profit tax – crafts mostly) is not obliged to deliver The annual financial report. It is about 50 % of units but they take only 10 % of total turnover. Basic data for those units (Turnover and Number of employees) are taken from Statistics business register, and other variables are estimated and imputed for each unit. Estimation method is base on the ratio of each variable in turnover for the population with the same stratum (activity) contained in The annual financial report.
Data processing through SBS production application: - calculation of variables - calculation of structure for estimate - estimation and imputation item non-response - checks according validation rules
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable
No further 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)
Statistical unit used is an Enterprise according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 of 15 March 1993 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community and other methodological guidelines.
It includes all active enterprises that are, according to their main activity, classified in sections B – J and L – N as well as in division 95 of section S.
Also it includes active enterprises classified in parts of section K (classes 6411 and 6419 as well as in division 65).
We include branches of foreign enterprises and do not exclude activities abroad of enterprises registered in Croatia (for example construction site).
Croatia.
Regional datasets on NUTS 2 level.
2020
Reference period - Calendar year
SBS data are generally of high quality, especially those for key variables.
Possible Statistical business register data source errors (coverage, activities, turnover, number of employees quality) are low. Possible Annual financial report of entrepreneur data source errors (quality of accounting data) are low. Possible Annual report on gross investments in fixed assets data source errors (quality of statistical source) are low. Possible Annual report on investments in environmental protection and expenditures on goods and services in environment data source errors (quality of statistical source) are medium. Error of estimate method (quality of estimates) is low.
Number of enterprises and number of local units are expressed in units.
Monetary data are expressed in millions of €.
Employment variables are expressed in units.
Per head values are expressed in thousands of € per head.
Ratios are expressed in percentages.
The part of units (that are not obliged to pay profit tax – crafts mostly) is not obliged to deliver The annual financial report. It is about 50 % of units but they take only 10 % of total turnover. Basic data for those units (Turnover and Number of employees) are taken from Statistics business register, and other variables are estimated and imputed for each unit. Estimation method is base on the ratio of each variable in turnover for the population with the same stratum (activity) contained in The annual financial report.
Data processing through SBS production application: - calculation of variables - calculation of structure for estimate - estimation and imputation item non-response - checks according validation rules
SBS data are based on administrative and statistical sources (all produced variables can be taken or calculated directly from administrative or statistical sources): - The annual financial report for accounting and statistical purposes, taken from Financial agency; micro data on annual level; population are legal units that are obliged to deliver The annual financial report in accordance with Accounting Act (it is about 50% of units but they take 90% of total turnover) - Report of receipts, income tax, surtax and contributions for compulsory insurance (JOPPD form) taken from Tax administration; micro data on monthly level; population are all legal units - Survey population taken from Statistical Business Register; micro data on annual level; population are all active legal units from SBS coverage - results from INV-P statistical survey “Annual report on gross investments in fixed assets” conducted by National accounts sector of CBS; micro data on annual level; sample survey - results from IDU-OK statistical survey “Annual report on investments in environmental Protection and expenditures on goods and services in environment” conducted by Environmental statistics department; micro data on annual level; sample survey.
Frequency to which the used administrative and statistical data sources are updated is very good.
Administrative and statistical data are subject to several revisions with increasing degree of completeness because the SBS team is obliged to be involved in the revision process of all sources.
Annual
Provisional data are published with 11 months delay, and the final with 19 months delay from the end of the reporting period.
Regional data at the NUTS 2 level are comparable.
Since data are prepared according to regulations which refer to structural business statistics, they are comparable to the data of other EU Member States.
2008-2018
2019-2020
Data for 2019 are not comparable with data from previous years due to the enlargement of the coverage of active enterprises (since 2019, those natural persons who are self-employed, and whose activity is determined on the basis of income tax returns in a lump-sum are also included). In addition, until the 2018 reference year, legal and natural persons were used as the equivalent of enterprise, while since 2019, the definition of enterprise according to the EU methodology has been applied.
