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.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
C2: National accounts - Production
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
21 March 2019
2.2. Metadata last posted
21 March 2019
2.3. Metadata last update
21 March 2019
Adjusted gross disposable income of households gives broader picture of houeholds' income by including the flows corresponding to the use of individual goods and services which these households receive free of charge from governent and NPISHs, i.e. social transfers in kind. This facilitates comparisons over time and across countries when there are differences or changes in economic and social conditions and in the role of general government in the redistribution of income.
4.1. Data description
Real adjusted gross disposable income of households per capita in PPS is calculated as the adjusted gross disposable income of households and Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (NPISH) divided by the purchasing power parities (PPP) of the actual individual consumption of households and by the total resident population.
Adjusted gross disposable income of households gives broader picture of houeholds' income by including the flows corresponding to the use of individual goods and services which these households receive free of charge from governent and NPISHs, i.e. social transfers in kind. This facilitates comparisons over time and across countries when there are differences or changes in economic and social conditions and in the role of general government in the redistribution of income.
Purchasing power parities (PPPs) are indicators of price level differences across countries. PPPs tell us how many currency units a given quantity of goods and services costs in different countries. PPPs can thus be used as currency conversion rates to convert expenditures expressed in national currencies into an artificial common currency, the purchasing power standard (PPS), eliminating the effect of price level differences across countries. The main use of PPPs is to convert national accounts aggregates into comparable volume aggregates. Applying nominal exchange rates in this process would overestimate the disposable income of countries with high price levels relative to countries with low price levels. The use of PPPs ensures that the adjusted disposable of all countries is valued at a uniform price level and thus reflects only differences in the actual volume of the economy.
The indicator is based on data from annual non-financial sector accounts. For more information please refer to Eurobase domain nasa_10_nf_tr.
For data on purchasing power parities please refer to Eurobase domain prc_ppp_ind.
For data on resident population please refer to Eurobase domain nama_10_pe.
Annual for national data and quarterly for EA/EU aggregates
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year
5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
According to the ESA 2010 Transmission Programme, Member States have to transmit annual data to Eurostat within 9 months after the end of the reference year. Eurostat normally publishes the data shortly after delivery by the countries (sometimes, validation process may lead to some delay).
Annual European Union and Euro Area aggregates (calculated by summing up of four quarters of Quarterly Sector Accounts) are available 4 months after the end of the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
> 75% EU MS and EU aggregate
6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are published for European Union, euro area, EU Member States, EFTA countries (except Liechtenstein). Data on other countries, including Candidate Countries, are available on an ad-hoc basis. In rare cases some countries data may be missing mostly in latest periods if not transmitted on time or not validated.
Eurostat estimates the aggregates for the EU and the euro area; all other data are produced by the statistical offices of the respective countries. For further information on country data you may also refer to National Statistical Institutes and National Central Banks (links given on the Eurostat web site).
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS
6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Comparability across countries is ensured by the application of the legal and conceptual framework represented by the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and ESA 2010 data transmission programme.
Moreover, comparability of the core national accounts indicators (GDP, household final consumption expenditure etc.) for EU countries is regularly monitored in the context of the work of the Gross National Income (GNI) Committee. In addition, international harmonisation of techniques and, to some extent, compilation tools is ensured by the work of the national accounts working groups (Eurostat, OECD, UN).
The comparability of the household saving rate across countries may be impacted by the type of units included in the household sector. In particular, a lower/higher proportion of individual or family businesses may influence the levels, but hardly the movements, of this indicator.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years
6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Time coverage (i.e., length of the historical series) is different for European series and for national series. EU and euro area aggregates start from 1999. National data series should be transmitted starting from the reference period 1995 in line with ESA 2010 data transmission programme. However, the coverage for national data may vary from country to country, partly due to granted derogations or longer series transmitted on voluntary basis.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points
6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
The definition of indicator is based on the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).
ESA 2010 Transmission programme requires coherent and relatively long (as from 1995) time series for annual sector accounts which are produced by most of the EU Member States. Rarely, in some countries, methodological breaks can affect time series (normally on a temporary basis), which are then flagged accordingly in Eurostat database.
Backward calculations of time series are provided to ensure full time coherence in a case of major methodological changes.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
No regular publications
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
Eurostat database
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable
Data are derived from annual non-financial sector accounts. For more information please refer to metadata description for the mentioned data collection (see nasa_esms).
Real adjusted gross disposable income of households per capita in PPS is calculated as the adjusted gross disposable income of households and Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (NPISH) divided by the purchasing power parities (PPP) of the actual individual consumption of households and by the total resident population.
Adjusted gross disposable income of households gives broader picture of houeholds' income by including the flows corresponding to the use of individual goods and services which these households receive free of charge from governent and NPISHs, i.e. social transfers in kind. This facilitates comparisons over time and across countries when there are differences or changes in economic and social conditions and in the role of general government in the redistribution of income.
Purchasing power parities (PPPs) are indicators of price level differences across countries. PPPs tell us how many currency units a given quantity of goods and services costs in different countries. PPPs can thus be used as currency conversion rates to convert expenditures expressed in national currencies into an artificial common currency, the purchasing power standard (PPS), eliminating the effect of price level differences across countries. The main use of PPPs is to convert national accounts aggregates into comparable volume aggregates. Applying nominal exchange rates in this process would overestimate the disposable income of countries with high price levels relative to countries with low price levels. The use of PPPs ensures that the adjusted disposable of all countries is valued at a uniform price level and thus reflects only differences in the actual volume of the economy.
The indicator is based on data from annual non-financial sector accounts. For more information please refer to Eurobase domain nasa_10_nf_tr.
For data on purchasing power parities please refer to Eurobase domain prc_ppp_ind.
For data on resident population please refer to Eurobase domain nama_10_pe.
