Quarterly National Accounts (QNA)

By Invitation 
Course No.: RT 09.03
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (RTP)
Date: February 15 - February 26 2009 (2 Weeks)
Language: English
Target Audience:
National accounts compilers.
Qualifications:
Applicants should have a degree in economics or the equivalent.
Course Description:
This two-week course, presented by the IMF's Statistics Department, aims to provide a thorough understanding of concepts, sources of data, and compilation techniques for producing quarterly national accounts statistics. The course is based on the System of National Accounts 1993 (1993 SNA) and is oriented toward national accounts compilers from countries that are developing or plan to develop quarterly national accounts (QNA).

The course comprises both theoretical and practical issues in the compilation of QNA. It covers the following main topics: (i) scope and role of QNA, (ii) strategies for setting up a QNA compilation system, (iii) commonly used sources and issues concerning data sources for compiling quarterly GDP estimates (mainly from production and expenditure approaches), (iv) data editing and reconciliation, (v) benchmarking techniques for combining quarterly indicators with the annual estimates, (vi) seasonal adjustment, (vii) price and volume measures, (viii) work-in-progress, and (ix) revision policy and dissemination practices. The course is delivered through lectures, exercises, and small group discussions.