Data Consistency in IMF Publications: Country Staff Reports Versus International Financial Statistics
IMF Working Papers, March 1, 2005
Source details
- Canonical URL
- Data Consistency in IMF Publications: Country Staff Reports Versus International Financial Statistics
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: John Cady, Anthony J. Pellechio
- Published: March 1, 2005
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451860658.001
Summary
- Data published in IMF country staff reports and International Financial Statistics (IFS) may differ for identical variables, and users may at times be unaware of the reasons for these differences and lack the information needed to permit reconciliation.
- 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.
- The 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.
Study scope and focus
- Compared datasets: IFS versus a sample of recently published Article IV consultation (country staff) reports.
- Data frequency examined: annual data on core statistical indicators required for Fund surveillance.
- Principal cause of discrepancies identified: differing objectives and data requirements between country staff reports and IFS.
Key findings
- There is a significant incidence of apparent discrepancies for similarly defined variables between IMF country staff reports and IFS.
- Users may lack sufficient information to reconcile these differences.
Subjects and keywords
- Subjects: Bank credit, Current account balance, International reserves, Monetary base, Public debt
- Keywords: country, government, information, nominal GDP, staff report, WP