Reader’s guide
In order to accurately interpret the data included in Government at a Glance 2017, readers need to be familiar with the following methodological considerations that cut across a number of indicators. The standard format for the presentation of indicators is on two pages. The first page contains text that explains the relevance of the topic and highlights some of the major differences observed across OECD countries. It is followed by a “Methodology and definitions” section, which describes the data sources and provides important information necessary to interpret the data. Closing the first page is the “Further reading” section, which lists useful background literature providing context to the data displayed. The second page showcases the data. These figures show current levels and, where possible, trends over time. A glossary of the main definitions of the publication can be found in the final chapter of the book.
Calendar year/fiscal year in National Accounts data
Unless specified, data from the OECD National Accounts are based on calendar years.
Data for Australia and New Zealand refer to fiscal years: 1 July of the year indicated to 30 June for Australia and 1 April of the year indicated to 31 March for New Zealand. For Japan, data regarding sub-sectors of general government and expenditures by COFOG refer to fiscal year.
The data based on the System of National Accounts (SNA) were extracted from the OECD National Accounts Statistics (database) and the Eurostat Government finance statistics (database) on 09 May 2017.
Country coverage
Government at a Glance 2017 includes data for all 35 OECD countries based on available information. The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
Some additional non-member countries, such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Lithuania and the Russian Federation1 (accession countries to the OECD) as well as other major economies of the world (i.e. Brazil, People’s Republic of China, India, Indonesia and South Africa) also supplied data for some indicators. Data for these non-member countries are presented separately at the end of tables and figures.
Abbreviation codes
OECD averages and totals
Averages
In figures, the OECD average is presented either as unweighted, arithmetic mean or weighted average of the OECD countries for which data are available. It does not include data for non-member countries. In the notes, OECD countries with unavailable data are listed.
If a figure depicts information for one or more years, the OECD average includes all OECD countries with available data. For instance, an OECD average for 2009 published in this edition includes all current OECD countries with available information for that year, even if at that time they were not members of the OECD.
In the case of National Accounts data OECD averages refer to the weighted average, unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, OECD averages are calculated until 2015 as not all OECD countries (mainly OECD non-European countries) have available data for 2016.
Totals
OECD totals are most commonly found in tables and represent the sum of data in the corresponding column for the OECD countries for which data are available. Totals do not include data for non-member countries. In the notes, OECD countries with unavailable data are mentioned.
Online supplements
For several indicators, additional tables and figures presenting country-specific data or annexes with complementary information on the indicator methodology can be found online. When available, these are noted in the “Methodology and definitions” section of the indicator. Government at a Glance 2017 also offers access to StatLinks, a service that allows readers to download the corresponding Excel files of the data featured. StatLinks is found at the bottom right-hand corner of the tables or figures and can be typed into a web browser or, in an electronic version of the publication, clicked on directly.
In addition, the following supplementary materials are available online at: www.oecd.org/gov/govataglance:
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Country fact sheets that present key data by country compared with the OECD average;
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Government at a Glance statistical database that includes regularly updated data for a selection of quantitative indicators via OECD.Stat and the publication of qualitative data for the GOV surveys via a dedicated web platform;
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Country contextual notes that present contextual information describing some key features of the political and administrative structures for each member country.
Per capita indicators
Some indicators (e.g. expenditures, revenues and government debt) are shown on a per capita (e.g. per person) basis. The underlying population estimates are based on the System of National Accounts notion of residency. They include persons who are resident in a country for one year or more, regardless of their citizenship, and also include foreign diplomatic personnel and defence personnel together with their families, students studying and patients seeking treatment abroad, even if they stay abroad for more than one year. The one-year rule means that usual residents who live abroad for less than one year are included in the population, while foreign visitors (for example, vacationers) who are in the country for less than one year are excluded. An important point to note in this context is that individuals may feature as employees of one country (contributing to the GDP of that country via production), but residents of another (with their wages and salaries reflected in the gross national income of their resident country).
Purchasing power parities
Purchasing power parities (PPPs) are the rates of currency conversion that equalise the purchasing power of different countries by eliminating differences in price levels between countries. When converted by means of PPPs, expenditures across countries are in effect expressed at the same set of prices, meaning that an equivalent bundle of goods and services will have the same cost in both countries, enabling comparisons across countries that reflect only the differences in the volume of goods and services purchased.
PPPs for current and historical series are produced and updated by the OECD with a specified procedure.
For latest years, the following results for GDP, AIC (households’ Actual Individual Consumption) and IHC (Individual Household Consumption) were published in December 2016:
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Final results for the year 2013; fourth estimates for the year 2014; third estimates for the year 2015.
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In February 2017, first estimates for the year 2016 are going to be published.
Historical PPP data until 2012 may be revised in December each year in order to incorporate revisions in National Accounts’ deflators. In December 2016, historical PPP data until 2012 were exceptionally revised for all European countries.
More information historical time series is available here:
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2008, 2011: PPPs for all OECD countries and Russia are benchmark results calculated jointly by the OECD and Eurostat.
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2006-2007, 2009-2010, 2012: PPPs for European countries are annual benchmark results provided by Eurostat. PPPs for non-European countries and Russia are OECD estimates based on global extrapolation.
Additional information is also available on the OECD PPP Internet site: www.oecd.org/std/prices-ppp
Composite indicators
The publication includes several descriptive composite indices in narrowly defined areas related to human resources management, performance budgeting, open government data and regulatory governance. These composite indexes are a practical way of summarising discrete, qualitative information. The composites presented in this publication were created in accordance with the steps identified in the Handbook on Constructing Composite Indicators (Nardo, et al., 2008).
Details about the variables and weights used to construct the different composite indicators are available in Annexe E respectively. While the composite indicators were developed in co-operation with OECD countries and are based on theory and/or best practices, the variables included in the indexes and their relative weights are based on expert judgments and, as a result, may change over time.
Signs and abbreviations
Note
← 1. With regard to the Russian Federation, on 12 March 2014 the OECD Council “postponed activities related to the OECD accession process for the Russian Federation for the time being” (http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/statement-by-the-oecd-regarding-the-status-of-the-accession-process-with-russia-and-co-operation-with-ukraine.htm).