Page 25 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 1

IPS30 Diana B.
of various registers, reorganising the dispersed way in which information was
handled by different authorities (Beltadze, 2016). The view of the
representatives of the pessimistic approach sprung from the responsibility for
the quality of census results, gaps in legislation, the lacking opportunities to
update hardware and software platforms, including databases and systems,
for the production of statistics. At the same time, there was a desire and
willingness to cooperate more closely with various authorities and agencies to
study the data of registers and find ways for improving the situation. In order
to improve the data quality of registers, the producer of statistics
recommended specifying data quality requirements and introducing auditing
of the registers. It was also reminded that there was a need to ensure regular
updating of the data in the registers and it is crucial to harmonise the
definitions and classifications used in different registers.

Chapter 2
Preparation for the register-based census in 2009–2015
New impetus was given to the register-based census in the context of
entry into force of the Official Statistics Act in 2010. Statistics Estonia was given
the task to start preparations for a register-based census. The task of
comparing 2011 census data with data in registers was stipulated by law
(Official Statistics Act, chapter Census). The data inclusion of the databases
and registers was insufficient with regard to required indicators before the
previous census (Beltadze, 2016). It was settled that the assessment and
improvement of the quality of registers using census data was a prerequisite
for the transition to a fully register-based census. A comparative analysis of
datasets was done during 2010-2013, after all census results were published.
Based on the analysis it was concluded that combining registers and census,
2011 data produces an effect which results in improved data quality indicators
of register data for a number of characteristics during the census data
processing stage. This concludes that registers can be used for a census. At
the same time, similarly to the results of the methodological report in 2013,
the analysis results pointed to insufficient data quality.

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