Ivan Šošić () (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb) Vlasta Bahovec () (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb) Mirjana Čižmešija () (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb)
Abstract
Business and consumer surveys (B-C-S) are qualitative economic surveys designed to deal with judgments and expectations of economic agents and consumers. They are a necessary complement to the quantitative statistical surveys. Information from business and consumer surveys serve as a subset of information set important for evaluation of the state of business climate and activities, economic trends and forecasting. B-C- S information are summarised in the form of various indicators such as: industrial confidence indicator, service confidence indicator, consumer confidence indicator, construction confidence indicator, retail trade confidence indicator, economic sentiment indicator. There is the joint harmonised EU programme of (B-C-S) and it is carried out by member states. There is a harmonized EU methodology, but differences exist in applied sample designs and methods of sample selection, treatment of non-responses, seasonal adjustment methods etc. The surveys are conducted by various organisations: statistical institutes, statistical bureau offices, specialised firms, national banks. In this paper comparatively and detailed are presented the main methodological characteristics of B-C-S of EU member countries and candidate countries. B-S is carried out in Croatia from 1995. The applied methodology of Croatian B-C-S is highly harmonised with those of EU methodology. There is the problem of relatively high no-response rate. It is necessary to make some questionnaire revisions. Monthly based surveys should be introduced as well as the investment test. In order to improve the Croatian B-C-S it is necessary to ensure the organisational and financial stability of conducting the surveys.
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb in its series EFZG Working Papers Series with number
0703.
Find related papers by JEL classification: C82 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data C42 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Survey Methods E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
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