Finances of the State

What does the survey comprise?

Purpose

The survey gives an insight into the size and composition of the expenditures and revenues of the State.

Target population

All parts of the State, i.e. ministries, agencies and budget funds, active in the period under review.

Statistical unit

(Part of) the State.

Date/year survey started

Sections of the survey started in 1996 and 1999.

Frequency

Quarterly and yearly.

Publication strategy

Provisional quarterly figures are released three months after the period under review. The figures may be adjusted as a result of new or more recent source material becoming available, and to bring them into line with quarterly figures of the Quarterly Sector Accounts and the yearly figures of the National Accounts. This means the figures remain provisional for a long time. They are brought into line with the quarterly figures of the Quarterly Sector Accounts and with the National Accounts first, second and definite year estimates. These year estimates are published in years t+1, t+2 and t+3 respectively. Adjustments subsequent to those for the first estimate are generally only very small. Adjusted figures are implemented when a new quarterly figure is added to the series.     

Provisional yearly figures are released nine months after the period under review. The figures may be adjusted as a result of new or more recent source material becoming available, and to bring them into line with yearly figures of the National Accounts. This means the figures remain provisional for a long time. They are brought into line with the National Accounts  second and definite year estimates. These year estimates are published in years t+2 and t+3 respectively. Adjustments subsequent to those for the first estimate are generally only very small. Adjusted figures are implemented when a new yearly figure is added to the series.     

How is the survey conducted?

Survey type

Integral observation of all parts of the State.

Survey method

The basic data are supplied by the ministries, agencies, budget funds and De Nederlandsche Bank via selections from their financial administrations and via public documents (budgets, annual reports).

Respondents

All ministries, agencies and budget funds, and De Nederlandsche Bank.

Sample size

N/a.

Checking and correction methods

Check on the connection between data after statistical analysis and the (original) source information of the parts of the State.

Check on the development of the expenditures and revenues per type of transaction during the most recent statistical periods. Large increases or decreases are only accepted if a plausible explanation is available

Check on the internal consistency of the data after statistical analysis. This means that internal settlements within one part of the State and between different parts of the State are in balance.

Weighting

N/a.

Quality of the results

Accuracy

Very high.

Sequential comparability

The figures represent the expenditures and revenues of the State according to the definitions and categories of the European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95).

There is also a check on the development per type of expenditure and revenue during the most recent statistical periods (see checking and correction methods).

Quality strategy

The basic principle is integral observation of all parts of the State.