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
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.
Confidentially is stated in the Statistical Law 226/2009
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data are marked as confidential when there are less than 4 enterprises or when turnover of one or two enterprises dominate (more than 80% of the total turnover) one aggregate.
The framework for the quality is constituted of the following: procedures based on the GSBPM standard and the general quality management system based on EFQM. Additionaly the SBS follows national policy on quality.
The administrative sources of data are used in order to reduce the burden on respondents to check the coherence of the data.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of the data is assesed based on quality indicators; coefficient of variation to measure the accuracy of the estimates. It is calculated as ratio of the standarddeviation of the estimate to the value of that estimate. The coefficient of variation series were transmited to Eurostat.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main internal user is National Accounts Department. External users are: ministries, academia and businesses.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User satistifaction survey was not carried out
12.3. Completeness
The data for NACE classes which are not published is caused by confidentiality issues.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The main source of errors is the non-responses and incomplete data provided by the enterprises.
Time period from first release to final is 8 months according to the regulation requirements.
13.2. Sampling error
The enterprises with 20 and more employed persons are included exhaustively in the data collection. The enterprises below are selected using sampling method
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling error is very low and does not influence the overall results.
14.1. Timeliness
Provisional data are available T+10 months and final data are available T+18 months (as requested by SBS regulation).
14.2. Punctuality
There is no lag between actual delivery of the data and the target date
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Statistics are comparable between geographical areas
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparable data for 2008-2019, enterprise equal to legal unit. Data before 2008 are collected and compiled according to Nace Rev.1.1. Since 2018 data are computed at enterprise level, enterprise defined in accordance with Regulation 969/1993.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The coherence between variables number of persons emplyed, turnover is checked between SBS and STS.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The aggregates are always consistent with their main sub-aggregates
Not available
17.1. Data revision - policy
The National Institute of Statistics Romania adopted revision policy which defines the standard rules and the principles for statistical data revision. This revision policy complies with: the European Statistics Code of Practice, adopted by the European Statistical System Committee (ESSC) in 2011; the European Statistical System Guidelines on the revision policy of the Principal European Economic Indicators, as well as with its annexes which comprise the principles of a common policy on European statistics revision; and with the Quality Guidelines.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data are revised in case errors are detected. The revision policy is applied.
18.1. Source data
Statistical survey combined with administrtive data (financial statments of the enteprises).
Sampling design:
The sampling volume was determined by imposing that, at the total country level, the precision of the estimator for total turnover should be 0.03, at a confidence level of 95%, i.e.
where,
- estimator of total turnover
- total turnover.
The allocation of the selection volume in strata was done by the Neyman allocation method based on the standard deviation of the turnover variable values:
where
, volume in stratum h,
n - total volume of sample
, weight of stratum h,
standard deviation of the turnover in stratum h.
The minimum number units per strata was set up is 5 units. After drawing the sample, the coefficients of variation calculated for the number of employees and turnover indicators were analyzed, at NACE Rev.2 division level, size class and NACE code. The coefficients of variation resulted are below the allowed threshold of 30%.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual data collection
18.3. Data collection
Paper and electronic (Excel) questionnaires
18.4. Data validation
Validation rules applied before the data are transmitted to Eurostat: intra-dataset checks, inter-dataset checks, intra-source checks; consistency checks between statistical domains
18.5. Data compilation
Data for non-respondent units are imputed using adminstrative sources (financial statments of the enterprise) and grossing up weights taking into account the non-response rate.
18.6. Adjustment
No differences between reference year and calendar year
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)
All enterprises are included. The frame population is based on Statistical Business Register
The entire country, but activity abroad of the enteprises is excluded.
2020 calendar year
The main source of errors is the non-responses and incomplete data provided by the enterprises.
Time period from first release to final is 8 months according to the regulation requirements.
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.
Data for non-respondent units are imputed using adminstrative sources (financial statments of the enterprise) and grossing up weights taking into account the non-response rate.
Statistical survey combined with administrtive data (financial statments of the enteprises).
Sampling design:
The sampling volume was determined by imposing that, at the total country level, the precision of the estimator for total turnover should be 0.03, at a confidence level of 95%, i.e.
where,
- estimator of total turnover
- total turnover.
The allocation of the selection volume in strata was done by the Neyman allocation method based on the standard deviation of the turnover variable values:
where
, volume in stratum h,
n - total volume of sample
, weight of stratum h,
standard deviation of the turnover in stratum h.
The minimum number units per strata was set up is 5 units. After drawing the sample, the coefficients of variation calculated for the number of employees and turnover indicators were analyzed, at NACE Rev.2 division level, size class and NACE code. The coefficients of variation resulted are below the allowed threshold of 30%.
Annual
Provisional data are available T+10 months and final data are available T+18 months (as requested by SBS regulation).
Statistics are comparable between geographical areas
Comparable data for 2008-2019, enterprise equal to legal unit. Data before 2008 are collected and compiled according to Nace Rev.1.1. Since 2018 data are computed at enterprise level, enterprise defined in accordance with Regulation 969/1993.
