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IPS246 Tiziana Laureti et al.
Measuring uncertainty is a complex and challenging task, which can
involve the use of sophisticated statistical and econometric techniques and
subjective judgement to quantify the data uncertainties.
Various frameworks have been proposed for defying and classifying
uncertainty measures and their sources for economic statistics (Verma et al,
2010; Manski, 2015). Commonly, statisticians categorise uncertainties to reflect
non-sampling and sampling errors. Sampling error is the most commonly
reported measure of statistical uncertainty since this source can be
quantitatively estimated for many sample surveys. Non-sampling errors apply
to administrative records and surveys, including censuses, whereas sampling
errors apply only to sample surveys. In principle, therefore, the total
uncertainty associated with statistical output comprises both sampling error
and non-sampling error (Mazzi et al, 2019). COMUNIKOS is designed to
evaluate alternative ways of measuring and communicating data uncertainty
specifically in contexts relevant for official economic statistics. Nevertheless,
COMUNIKOS could be extended to the measurement of well-being which
involves the use of economic and social statistics which are often provided by
the statistical agencies without information on uncertainties.
In the framework of the OECD’s Better Life Initiative, the economic well-
being (material living condition) is identified as one of the pillars for
understanding and measuring people’s well-being following a multi-
dimensional approach (OECD, 2013). Income and wealth are essential
components of individual well-being since they allow people to satisfy their
needs, to enhance individuals’ freedom to choose the lives that they want to
live, and to improve other important dimensions of well-being, such as life
expectancy and educational attainments. The importance of economic well-
being to overall well-being has been recognised by all the statistical agencies
when producing framework for the measurement of individual well-being.
The growing attention to the measurement of well-being has led to
progressively include well-being indicators in the policy agenda in various
countries, including Italy where the Ministry of Treasury has started using well-
being indicators for the evaluation of fiscal policies.
The micro approach for the measurement and analysis of economic
resources available to the population refers to the study of poverty and its
effect on different socio-economic groups within society. In the context of the
Europe 2020 Strategy, poverty indicators play an essential role in informing
and supporting responsible evidence-based policies towards the Union's key
goals which relate to inclusive and sustainable growth and reduction of
poverty, inequalities and social exclusion.
In 2010, the European Commission identified as one of the five headline
targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy a 20-million decrease in the number of
persons in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion (AROPE) by 2020. It is,

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