Page 129 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 4

STS571 Jaanus Kroon
intensity. The table 1 briefly describes these alternatives and lists the
advantages and disadvantages of each, given the situation at that time.
Eesti Pank opted for mobile positioning as it was the simplest statistics
instrument and relatively low-cost. The choice was largely determined by the
availability of the potential partner, the Department of Geography of the
University of Tartu in Estonia, whose spin-off company Positium OÜ had had
regular experience in using mobile positioning data in urban and regional
geography and planning since 2001. Building on the regular data exchange
that was already established with the biggest mobile operator in Estonia and
on the availability of related calibration surveys, remarkable scale effects were
expected. In 2008, the central bank started working with researchers at the
University of
Table 1. List of possible alternatives

Alternatives Pros Cons

Taking over the -Two years of -Time and labour
border- survey from experience, routine intensive
Statistics Estonia or
financing it - Can be partly -Disproportionately
integrated with expensive
visitor motivation
interview surveys -Insufficient reliability:
coverage, sampling,
grossing-up, etc.

Setting up an -Monthly frequency -Does not cover
accommodation outbound tourists
statistics-based -Easy to run
assessment model -Additional costs for a
-Reliable geographical regular calibration
allocation survey (private vs.
hotelMstays; visitors vs.
-Low costs tourists, etc.)

-Estimation errors

Using a Road Office -High periodicity -Very limited coverage
sensor data-based
assessment model -Supplements existing -Additional costs for a
(car- counters on the harbour and airport calibration survey (geo
allocation, number of
business data on
road at border- border- crossings passengers, length of
crossings) stay)

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