EFZG working paper series, No. 03, 2007.
Other
Ivan Šošić
; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb
Vlasta Bahovec
; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb
Mirjana Čižmešija
orcid.org/0000-0002-9873-7291
; 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.
Keywords
business surveys; sample design; sampling frame; response rate; research institutions,; seasonal adjustment methods
Hrčak ID:
137196
URI
Publication date:
13.2.2007.
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