Chain management in statistics: Best practices

Statistics like the national accounts are compiled using various data sources.  Most statistical institutes compile the underlying data using so called stovepipes.  A stovepipe means that a statistic is produced as a “stand alone process”. Stovepipes, however, are inappropriate for producing integrated and coherent information and cause administrative burden. A solution is to integrate all stages of the production process as part of a chain of statistical products, using chain management. So far, chain management is hardly applied in statistical institutes. The present chapter describes the main components of chain management and how it is organized. It turns out that chain management is not easy to implement; it must be introduced step by step, and it is not something that once “organised” will continue to work ever after.