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Survey of the survey in distribution - a meta-survey on the Ifo Business Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Klaus Abberger
  • Manuel Birnbrich
  • Christian Seiler

Abstract

The Ifo Business Climate is an economic indicator calculated by the Ifo Institute from the results of its monthly business survey. The answers to two questions form this indicator: the evaluation of the current business situation and assessments of the six-month business outlook. The interpretation of what precisely is the "business situation" and the "business outlook" is consciously left to the survey participants. In a special survey, conducted in spring 2009, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research examined the factors that form the basis for firms' replies to the monthly business survey. The firms in retailing and wholesaling contacted in this survey participate regularly in the Ifo Business Survey. The results show that in both the assessment of the current business situation as well as in the appraisal of the business outlook, the firms rely on their profit situation and their turnover. The flexibility of the survey questions has proven to be a major advantage of the Ifo Business Survey, allowing assessments to be made of economic activity in various sectors. The meta-survey also showed that that the persons who fill in the Ifo questionnaire also have the information they need to assess both the business situation and the outlook. In the great majority of firms the questionnaires are filled in by a member of upper management.

Suggested Citation

  • Klaus Abberger & Manuel Birnbrich & Christian Seiler, 2009. "Survey of the survey in distribution - a meta-survey on the Ifo Business Survey," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 62(21), pages 34-41, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:62:y:2009:i:21:p:34-41
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    File URL: https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/ifosd_2009_21_4.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Klaus Abberger & Wolfgang Nierhaus, 2007. "The Ifo Business Climate: A reliable leading indicator," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 60(05), pages 25-30, March.
    2. Klaus Abberger & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2006. "Forecasting qualities of the Ifo Business Climate Index - a look at recent studies," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 59(22), pages 19-26, November.
    3. Victor Zarnowitz, 1992. "Business Cycles: Theory, History, Indicators, and Forecasting," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number zarn92-1, March.
    4. Klaus Abberger, 2006. "Ifo Business Climate and the production index in manufacturing," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 59(21), pages 42-45, November.
    5. Zarnowitz, Victor, 1992. "Business Cycles," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226978901, December.
    6. Klaus Abberger & Wolfgang Nierhaus, 2008. "Ifo capacity utilisation – a coincident indicator for business activity in German manufacturing," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 61(16), pages 15-23, August.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • L80 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - General

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