Proposal Description

There is increasing interest in central banks and more generally in the global statistical community to facilitate the use of granular data. More and more institutions are making their micro data sets available to internal analysts as well as external researchers and counterpart institutions based on proper data sharing agreements and processes (eg statistical disclosure controls).
These developments are opening new opportunities for both the producers and users of data. Producers are developing innovative ways for managing the quality of source information and creating accurate and relevant statistics at different aggregation levels. And the expansion in data collection, data availability and computing power has resulted in corresponding growth in the empirical grounding of research and policymaking.
But dealing with granular data creates challenges, raising important information governance issues. The integration of data coming from various sources, combined with the use of innovative and often opaque technologies, raises organisational difficulties to ensure proper data collection, compilation and dissemination. And the production and use of high-quality, reliable and trustworthy data calls for having adequate methodological frameworks, information standards and infrastructure, as well as a holistic view of the available data being managed.
This session will review the experience of statistical and other authorities dealing with granular data, focusing on data quality management and processing as well as on ways to enhance data access and sharing. It will showcase best practices, as well as the challenges faced and the opportunities provided by technical innovation. It will also take stock of international efforts to improve the global statistical infrastructure related to the handling of granular data and foster data-sharing. In Europe, for instance, an Integrated Reporting Framework is being set up to integrate statistical requirements, providing a key opportunity to better standardise data collection and transformation processes across countries. At the global level, efforts are put on developing an international micro data standard in coordination with SDMx in the context of the G20 Data Gaps Initiative.
Another key initiative, led by a group of central banks, NSOs and international organisations, isthe International Network for Exchanging Experience on Statistical Handling of Granular Data. This INEXDA network provides a platform for administrative data producers to exchange experiences in making granular data accessible for research purposes. The session will provide an opportunity to introduce the network to the global statistical community by summarizing key insights developed throughout INEXDA's history. This will highlight both the commonalities and the diversity of solutions developed to address similar challenges, emphasizing how various approaches have been shaped by technical, administrative, and organizational factors. These findings will provide valuable guidance for organizations considering how to make their data available.
The session will be organised in close cooperation with INEXDA, several NSOs and international organisations; presentations will benefit from the vast experience accumulated by IFC central banks representing 110 jurisdictions worldwide.