IMF Working Papers

Accounting for Cloud Computing in the National Accounts

By Andrew Baer, Kwangwon Lee, James Tebrake

July 17, 2020

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Andrew Baer, Kwangwon Lee, and James Tebrake. Accounting for Cloud Computing in the National Accounts, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2020) accessed November 8, 2024

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

Digitalization and the innovative use of digital technologies is changing the way we work, learn, communicate, buy and sell products. One emerging digital technology of growing importance is cloud computing. More and more businesses, governments and households are purchasing hardware and software services from a small number of large cloud computing providers. This change is having an impact on how macroeconomic data are compiled and how they are interpreted by users. Specifically, this is changing the information and communication technology (ICT) investment pattern from one where ICT investment was diversified across many industries to a more concentrated investment pattern. Additionally, this is having an impact on cross-border flows of commercial services since the cloud service provider does not need to be located in the same economic territory as the purchaser of cloud services. This paper will outline some of the methodological and compilation challenges facing statisticians and analysts, provide some tools that can be used to overcome these challenges and highlight some of the implications these changes are having on the way users of national accounts data look at investment and trade in commercial services.

Subject: Cloud computing, Employee contributions, Imports, Information technology in revenue administration, International trade, Revenue administration, Service exports, Taxes, Technology

Keywords: Cloud computing, Cloud computing firm, Cloud computing provider, Cloud computing service, Cloud data storage service, Cloud service, Cloud services from the IT services firm, Cloud storage service, Computer processing firm, Computer services export, Data center, Delivery model, Employee contributions, F irst company, Global, Imports, Information and communication technology, Information technology in revenue administration, IT service, National accounts, Sector use cloud computing service, Service delivery model, Service exports, Software service, Use cloud computing service, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    32

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2020/127

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2020127

  • ISBN:

    9781513550459

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941

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