Measuring the Non Observed Economy: A Handbook

Books, June 24, 2002

Source details

Good-quality, comprehensive national accounts are vital for economic policymaking and research.
Exhaustive coverage is difficult because some economic activities may be:
- illegal,
- informal,
- household production for own final use,
- missed because of deficiencies in the data collection system.
Such activities constitute the non-observed ("hidden," "underground," or "shadow") economy.
The Handbook is the product of collaboration among the OECD, the IMF, ILO, ISC-CIS.
The Handbook identifies best practices for measuring the non-observed economy, consistent with international standards (in particular, with the System of National Accounts 1993).

Non-observed economy defined to include activities that are:
- illegal,
- informal,
- household production for own final use,
- missed because of deficiencies in the data collection system.
Terminology used in the Handbook: non-observed economy, "hidden," "underground," "shadow".
Emphasis on consistency with international standards, especially the System of National Accounts 1993.

Identifies best practices for measuring the non-observed economy.
Focus on producing exhaustive coverage in national accounts despite measurement challenges.
Targets improvements in data collection and estimation to capture activities missed by standard surveys and administrative records.

Subject: Consumption, Data collection, Economic and financial statistics, Economic sectors, Informal economy, Labor, National accounts
Keywords: Africa, Asia and Pacific, BOOK, Central Asia, Consumption, Data collection, enterprise, enterprise survey, Europe, Global, household production, household-enterprise survey, Informal economy, NOE, production, production approach, production boundary, production process, Sub-Saharan Africa

International Monetary Fund. Measuring the Non Observed Economy: A Handbook, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2002).