Transcript Presentation

Access to enterprise data at
Statistics Finland: introducing the
practices of the Research Laboratory
Satu Nurmi
OECD Conference: Assessing the feasibility of microdata access
Luxembourg 26-27 October 2006
Background
Increased demand for comprehensive micro-level
databases for research purposes
 Rich linkable administrative register databases are
goldmines for empirical economic analysis
 The challenge: protection of confidentiality vs. providing
researchers with the relevant data cost-effectively


Development of micro data
Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi
18.10.2004
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Legislation
Statistical data can only be released in unidentifiable form,
with a few exceptions
 Data can be released for scientific research and statistical
surveys only
 Sample data on individual persons can be released to
outside researchers
 By contrast, protected data on enterprises can only be
accessed at the premises of Statistics Finland

Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi
18.10.2004
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Research Laboratory of enterprise data
Offers academic researchers the possibility to use
enterprise-level data in their research projects
 Operation started in 2001, around 20 projects/year


Customers from universities and research institutes

Basic setting up cost €883/project and a rent of €18/hour

Data guidance and customised research services are
central in the operation
Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi
18.10.2004
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Access rules
A user licence is required
 Statistics Finland’s Ethics Committee considers exceptions
 Data limitations:
 encryption of unit identifiers
 removal of sensitive information
 Physical limitations:
 on-site access
 conditions of use

Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi
18.10.2004
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Research Laboratory’s main data sets
ENTERPRISE LEVEL DATA
 Business Register and Group
Register
 Financial Statements panel
 Business Aid Database
 R&D panel
 ICT panel
 Patent Register
 Innovation Surveys
ESTABLISHMENT LEVEL DATA
 Business Register
 Industrial Statistics panel
 Employment Statistics panel
(labour characteristics)
 Worker Flow panel
 Technology Survey
 Commodity Statistics
LINKED EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE DATA
 Finnish Longitudinal Employer-Employee Data (FLEED) & demo version
Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi
18.10.2004
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An example of linking data sets
Background
information on
individuals is
aggregated to
establishment
level.
Data from different
sources are linked
through encrypted
establishment or
enterprise
identifiers.
Industrial
Statistics
(Establishment)
Employment
Statistics
(Individual)
ICT
Survey
aggregation
analysis
Financial
Statements
Statistics
R&D
Survey
Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi
Innovation
Survey
18.10.2004
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Future challenges
Development of the databases and documentation
 Increased co-operation between research services in
different statistical units
 Improved communication with the research community
 On-line access as an alternative mode of use:

+ Regional equality
+ User-friendliness
+ Data protection
– High costs

International co-operation
Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi
18.10.2004
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