Distributional National Accounts in Belgium: An Approach Combining Administrative and Survey Data
Conference
65th ISI World Statistics Congress
Format: IPS Abstract - WSC 2025
Keywords: "data_linkage, "distributional, "population, #officialstatistics, 'national statistical system 'official, income
Wednesday 8 October 2 p.m. - 3:40 p.m. (Europe/Amsterdam)
Abstract
With the support of Eurostat and under the guidance of the OECD, the National Bank of Belgium launched an ambitious project five years ago to produce Distributional National Accounts, combining administrative and survey-based microdata.
Several challenges had to be addressed. The first was to build a consistent data model over time, centered on administrative data. The second was to link the four key dimensions at the micro-data level: income, consumption, wealth, and demographics. The third was to develop a robust process to bridge the gap between micro-level data and macroeconomic totals.
Ultimately, although still classified as experimental statistics, distributions of (adjusted) disposable income or savings can now be produced for the period from 2009 to 2022.