Data processing The Economic Outlook database

1.3. Economic Outlook sources and methods

1.3.1. Online Sources Methods

The Economic Outlook Sources Methods are described on the OECD Economic Outlook website: http:www.oecd.orgecooutlookeconomicoutlook.htm StatisticsSources and Methods of the Economic Outlook Direct link: http:www.oecd.orgecosources-and-methods.htm Online material includes detailed information on:  Key facts about the OECD Economic Outlook  Forecasting methods and analytical tools  Economic policies and other assumptions  Aggregation methods  References and more...

1.3.2. General assessment of the macroeconomic situation

The policy and other assumptions underlying the projections are described in the “ General Assessment of the Macroeconomic Situation ”, which is available on line on the OECD website: http:www.oecd.orgecooutlookeconomicoutlook.htm 1.3.3. Frequently Asked Questions FAQs Some of the frequently asked questions are listed on the OECD Economic Outlook website. For example:  When is the Economic Outlook database updated?  How can I access previous editions?  How are growth rates calculated?  Are the series final, preliminary or projected? What are the last historical points?  What are the differences between the SNA08 and Maastricht definitions of government financial liabilities?  Why do OECD data for gross financial liabilities differ from IMF estimates?  How are country-groupings, such as the euro area, computed?  What is the difference between the revenue statistics and the SNA government revenues?  What is the difference between public debt and government financial liabilities? Answers to these questions are given on the OECD Economic Outlook website: http:www.oecd.orgecooutlookeconomicoutlook.htm Statisticsfrequently asked questions FAQs Direct link: http:www.oecd.orgecooutlookfaqs.htm

1.3.4. Main sources

Sources for historical data i.e. excluding projections are publications of national statistical agencies and OECD statistical databases such as the OECD Quarterly National Accounts, OECD Annual National Accounts, OECD Annual Labour Force Statistics, and OECD Main Economic Indicators. More information on sources and methods by country is available on line on the OECD Economic Outlook website: http:www.oecd.orgecosources-and-methods.htm

1.3.5. Identities

Many data in the Economic Outlook database are calculated or re-calculated by formulas. These formulas – or identities – have been established to ensure the consistency of projections. Definitions of variables and the relations between variables are presented by mathematical expressions between variable codes in the Annex 4 . These expressions are identities and hold therefore exactly. Not presented are behavioural relations between variables and other non-identities. The identities are shown at a quarterly level. Some identities are slightly different on an annual level. Most identities are identical for all OECD countries. The base year or reference year is relevant for some identities. There are two kinds of base years:  Country specific base years, relevant for volume and price series for expenditure and GDP see Annex 2 for current base year. These base years are p resented in the identities as “base year”.  A non-country specific base year, relevant for trade series and other series comparable over countries. This base year is 2010 in the current database and is presented in the identities as “overall OECD base year”.