Metadata

Vulnerability databases

 

I. Database characteristics

 

1.1. Overview

1.1.1. Establishment and sources: These databases were created and are managed by the office of the Senior Economist for UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). They are intended to serve as a compendium of high-frequency (monthly, quarterly—generally operational) official economic data, to facilitate the monitoring of socio-economic trends affecting vulnerable households in the countries that contain a majority of the region’s population and poor households. These data are taken primarily from the official national statistical agenciesand national banks, as well as (less frequently) from Ministries of Finance and Economy. Migration data are taken from national statistical agencies, the United Nations global migration database, and the World Bank migration and remittances database. Early data on exchange rates (gathered in the first days of the month, prior to their release on national bank websites, from where they are subsequently updated) are taken from the OANDA exchange rate calculator.

1.1.2. Objectives and use: In seeking to provide high-frequency insights into socio-economic trends that are most relevant for vulnerable households in this region, these databases serve two purposes. First, they monitor data that directly pertain to these the welfare of these households, such as remittances, wages, employment, energy production and consumption, and food and energy prices. Second, these databases provide something of an early warning function, by monitoring trends in data that can indirectly serve as leading indicators for the economy as a whole. Data falling into this category include output trends in the industrial and construction sectors, exports and imports, import coverage by official foreign exchange reserves, exchange rates, producer prices, and the like. These databases are not intended to improve on official statistics, but rather to make these data from various countries more accessible and comparable. UNDP does not take responsibility for the accuracy of these data.

1.1.3. Data presentation and format: The data contained in these databases are presented in four respects:

1. As raw data downloaded directly (typically in spreadsheet form) from the relevant national statistical websites;
2. As working indicators showing monthly and year-on-year changes (i.e., (value in month A of year t)/(value in month A of year t-1)) in these data;
3. As more polished, user-friendy indicators showing monthly and year-on-year changes in these data; and
4. In charts, where trends in these data are depicted in graphical form.

All four dimensions are present in excel spreadsheets for each country covered (for more on the country coverage, please see section 1.3.1 below). The bulk of the worksheets in these spreadsheet are typically devoted to (1.1.3.a). Each spreadsheet contains a “vulnerability” worksheet that depicts trends as per (1.1.3.b); a “vulnerability PS” worksheet depicting trends in print sheet form (as per (1.1.3.c)); and a “charts” worksheet depicting trends as per (1.1.3.d). The “vulnerability PS” and “charts” worksheets for each country are also presented as PDF (“Vulnerability indicators” and “Vulnerability charts”) files. These data can be downloaded either as spreadsheets, or in PDF form.

1.1.4. Database users: The information in these databases is publicly available to all users. UNDP does not use these databases or the data they contain for commercial purposes. Questions about specific data series or countries can be addressed to: rbecsenioreconomist@undp.org.

 

1.2. Time frame of the data sets

1.2.1. Time frame and frequency of the data sets: The time frame and coverage of the data in the database vary from 2-3 years up to 10 years, depending on countries and indicators. Their frequency is mostly determined by the frequency with which these data are themselves released, or posted, by official sources (most are provided on monthly and quarterly bases).

1.2.2. Update calendar of the vulnerability indicators: Every effort is made to update the relevant databases within a few days of the release of new (or the posting of revision of old) data.

 

1.3. Geographic and thematic scope

1.3.1. Geographic coverage: These databases cover eight transition economies of Europe and Central Asia: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Ukraine. Coverage by these databases of vulnerability trends in other countries in this region is precluded by: (1) the absence of publicly available high-frequency data for the variables in question; and (2) the fact that European Union member states are not UNDP programme countries, and already report these data to Eurostat.

1.3.2. Indicator databases: In addition to the national databases for these countries, indicator-based databases are also maintained. These show cross-country trends in:

• prices(for food, energy, and the like);
• labour markets(trends in labour force growth, employment and unemployment and wages);
• exports and imports;
• remittances and migration, in terms of:
• trends in remittance inflows into main receiving countries;
• trends in remittance outflows from the region’s main sending countries; and
• the latest available migration data.

For more information on these data and underlying methodological issues, please refer to the:

1. IMF Special Data Dissemination Standards;
2. World Bank data resources;
3. World Bank migration and remittances data;
4. Asian Development Bank;
5. Eurostat;
6. United Nations Statistical Division;
7. UNDP poverty monitoring in the Europe and Central Asia; and
8. United Nations global migration database

 

II. Database structure

2.1. General structure: As explained in section 1.3, the databases consist of country- and indicator-based data sets. Each country-based data set is presented with separate files for “Vulnerability indicators” and “Vulnerability charts” for that country. Indicator-based data sets show time-series trends for these countries’ most important vulnerability indicators. A schematic representation of this structure is presented below:

 

FD–Full database;  VC–Vulnerability charts;  VI – Vulnerability indicators

 

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