Statistics of the nonprofit sector in Estonia

1
Statistics of the non-profit sector in Estonia

• Ülle Lepp
• Civil Society Excellence
• 3rd - 5th March 2005, Tallinn

2
Statistics of the non-profit sector (NPS) for
what and for whom?

• Overview of current state of affairs
• Overview of developments within the NPS
• Basis for international comparison with other
  countries
• Important for decision-makers
• Important for the NPS itself to develop
  strategies
• Important for the general public to form opinions
  on the activities of decision-makers and those of
  the NPS

3
Statistics of the Estonian NPS and the EKAK

• In the course of development of the EKAK it
  became obvious that current statistical data was
  not sufficient and reliable enough
• The EKAK points out the improvement of NPS
  statistics as one of its short-term priorities
• In 2002-2003 with the support of BAPP Estonia
  policy center PRAXIS conducted a pilot project to
  map the current state of statistics of the
  Estonian NPS and offer policy recommendations
• The activity plan for the EKAK for 2004-2006
  points out the Goal 8 - adequate register of NPOs
  

4
Pilot project of PRAXIS

• Objectives
• To map the current state of statistics of
  Estonian NPS
• To analyze theoretical issues related to the
  organization of NPS statistics
• To offer recommendations for the improvement of
  situation in Estonia
• To offer public institutions the findings of the
  pilot project as basis for improvement of
  situation and expert assistance

5
Progress to date

• Mapping of the current situation of statistics of
  Estonian NPS
• Detailed analysis of the Handbook on Non-Profit
  Institutions in the System of National Accounts
  by the Johns Hopkins University
• Verifying of the methodology of data collection
  and surveying of NPS in Estonia
• Working out of recommendations for improvement of
  the organization of statistics in Estonia

6
Current state of statistics of NPS in Estonia

• Current state does not allow anyone to receive
  exact enough information needed for
  decision-making
• Data-collection is not being organized
  systematically and data-collectors are not
  usually familiar with specific characteristics of
  NPS
• System of national accounts does not allow to
  have a full overview of NPS
• Lack of systematic efforts to improve the
  situation nor financial resources for that
• Lack of political will to change the current
  system (vs readiness on the level of specialists
  of Statistical Office of Estonia)

7
The Handbook on Nonprofit Institutions in the
System of NationalAccounts

• The Handbook was prepared by The Johns Hopkins
  University in cooperation with the UN Statistics
  Division and was published by the UN in 2003.
• The Handbook calls for national statistical
  agencies to bring together data on non-profit
  institutions in a satellite account.
• As part of creating satellite account statistical
  agencies are being asked to
• Broaden and improve their coverage of nonprofit
  institutions
• Compute the amount of volunteer effort these
  organizations mobilize and include this as part
  of economy

8
Policy options for the future

• Option 1 To maintain Status Quo
• Option 2 To improve the current system of data
  collection on NPS
• Option 3 To start working out a nonprofit
  institutions satellite account within the current
  system of national accounts

9
Policy recommendations for the improvement of NPS
statistics I

• Technical improvement of the Register of
  Nonprofit Institutions
• Working out and implementation of the Estonian
  version of the ICNPO
• Conducting of a national census of nonprofit
  institutions in 2006
• Establishing of a special unit within Statistical
  Office of Estonia working with NPS statistics
• Making data gathered by various public
  authorities available both for Statistical Office
  of Estonia as well as the NPOs and general public

10
Policy recommendations II

• Raising the awareness of NPOs on obligations
  related to registration procedures
• Raising the awareness of NPOs to provide
  necessary data to Statistical Office
• Ensuring that The Joint Commitee of Government
  and NPO representatives on the Implementation of
  the EKAK makes the improvement of statistics as
  one of its priorities and guarantees necessary
  financing

11
Implementation of recommendations 2004 - 2005

• The conclusions of the pilot study were used as
  an input in the governmental working group of
  implementing the Estonian Civil Society
  development
• The tested methodology of data collection has
  been used by the other institutions in
  conducting the surveys on Estonian NPS