Data Consistency in IMF Publications: Country Staff Reports Versus International Financial Statistics

Author/Editor:

John Cady ; Anthony J. Pellechio

Publication Date:

March 1, 2005

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

Data published in IMF country staff reports and International Financial Statistics (IFS) may differ for identical variables and, at times, users may be unaware of the reasons for these differences and lack the information needed to permit reconciliation. Such discrepancies stem principally from differences in the objectives of IMF country staff reports and their data requirements, on the one hand, and IFS, on the other. This paper presents the results of a study of the consistency of annual data on core statistical indicators required for Fund surveillance presented in the IMF's IFS and a sample of recently published Article IV consultation reports. The paper finds a significant incidence of apparent discrepancies for similarly defined variables.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2005/046

Subject:

Bank credit Current account balance International reserves Monetary base Public debt

English

Publication Date:

March 1, 2005

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451860658/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2005046

Pages:

27

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