Updating the Business-Frame in Japan using administrative data

and mail survey

Seiji TAKATAStatistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ)

1

1. Business-Frame in Japan in the past Source : Establishment and Enterprise Census (EEC)

2

- conducted at 2 or 3 year interval detailed census at 5 year interval simplified census 3 years after the detailed census - enumerator canvassing method

- 6 million establishments (2006) 1.7 million corporations

Coverage of EEC Enumerator-Canvassing Method

may miss enterprises with no signboards

cf. Number of corporations 1.7 million (EEC)

2.8 million (Commercial/Corporate Register)

3

Why the difference? - inactive establishments

- dummy corporations (without physical location)

- enumerators may miss the establishments

Timeliness of EEC EEC is conducted at 2 or 3 year interval

birth/death is not reflected to BR

until the next census is conducted.

4

some surveys suffer from “gap” of samples monthly labour survey, etc. (seemingly) low birth-rate of establishments around 4% per year

Recently, Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) made efforts to overcome these problems.

5

Utilization of Commercial/Corporate RegisterSupplementary Mail Survey

2. Utilization of Commercial/Corporate Register

Economic Census started in July, 2009. (replacing EEC)

6

To improve the coverage of Economic Census,we use Commercial/Corporate Register(CCR)to make the preparatory list of establishments.

In fact, there has been long discussion for the statistical use of CCR data. (between the Statistics Bureau and the Ministry of Justice)Statistics Bureau bears the cost of converting CCR data for statistical use.

Commercial/Corporate Register(CCR) Every corporation is legally required to

register to CCR.

- 2.8 million corporations included

- items: name of the corporation

address of the head-office

business activity (in words, multiple)

(no accounting items are included)

7

CCR data (2.8 million)

In many case, name/address of EEC data and CCR data differ from each other due to errors or mistakes, there happens numerous unidentified data.

EEC data (1.7 million head offices)

Unidentified 0.4 million

Identified 1.3 million

Unidentified 1.5 millionNominal head

office differs from the real one.

Inactive establishments

Dummy company

Enumerators failed to find 8

Preparatory List of Establishments

for the Economic CensusSource: results of 2006 EEC CCR

Firstly, match EEC and CCR by name and address.

Mail Survey for unmatched data.

Eventually, 2009 Economic Census will resolve the gap between EEC and CCR.

9

Utilization of CCR for updating BR

Monthly CCR data available.

around 10,000 new corporations per month

10

Timely Updating of BR possible (for corporations)

3. Supplementary Mail Survey CCR data contains : name of the corporation

address of the head office

11

not contain : phone number industrial classification number of persons engaged number of branch offices operating status(active/inactive)

SBJ plans to conduct

12

Mail survey for new corporations in CCR - Phone number - Main business activity - Number of persons engaged - Number of branch offices investigator-visiting for non-correspondents in major cities

(Tokyo, Osaka, etc.)

These information are reflected in BR

4. Utilization of Labour Insurance Data

CCR covers all corporations in Japan.

13

How about unincorporated entities? Any (administrative) data for them? Labour insurance, compulsory social security system by MHLW (Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare), covers all establishments with one or more employees.(of corporations and unincorporated entities)

SBJ now talks to MHLW to utilize labour insurance data to update BR.

5. Future Tasks Unincorporated entities with no

employees - not covered by CCR nor Labor insurance

- may be economically unimportant

(Probably Low) response rate for

supplementary mail survey

14

Another useful (administrative) data?

15

Tax Data!At present, SBJ cannot use tax data.There has been long debate about the statistical use of tax data, but no (positive) conclusion has been settled yet.

Gaining public support will be essential.

Thank You!

16