National and International Approaches in Social Reporting Author(s): Franz Rothenbacher Reviewed work(s): Source: Social Indicators Research, Vol. 29, No. 1 (May, 1993), pp. 1-62 Published by: Springer Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27522680 . Accessed: 25/11/2011 03:27
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FRANZ

ROTHENBACHER

NATIONAL

AND

INTERNATIONAL

APPROACHES

IN SOCIAL REPORTING*

(Accepted 27 October, 1992)
ABSTRACT. National and international in social in western approaches reporting are described. starts with The the outline of current in activities paper Europe are discussed. international The national Further organizations. competing approaches and products of social reporting; the plurality of actors in social topics are the sources and different The only diffusion of ways of its institutionalization. reporting, incomplete inWestern social are offered is described and some hypotheses for reporting Europe an explanation. The conclusion that there will be a new surge of social reporting points in the 1990s. As a basis for its argumentation in Europe the paper presents rich tables on social surveys and a bibliography on social reporting by actor.

1. STARTING This

POINT AND

EVOLUTION a general but

three main paper deals with topics. First it gives on social reporting condensed overview in international European countries

and western

organizations in terms of (a) the general evolution of in international organizations, social reporting, (b) the development and the development of social reporting in western European countries. (c)

it gives a comparative of approaches, data sources, description and ways of institutionalization of social reporting in western countries.1 Third it deals with the empirical fact of uncom European Second actors plete presents defined and subsequently reporting in western Europe, for an explanation. Western is hypotheses Europe here as the 16 European countries with 1 million inhabitants and over with the inclusion of Luxembourg, but excluding the former some And social is conceived reporting traditions connected with as a general term the labels "social diffusion of social

CMEA-countries.

the research comprising "level of living", indicators", "quality of life", "social well-being", "standard of living" and including also the system approaches as "social matrices" and "satellite accounts" 1973: p. 261). accounting (see Zapf, On the whole this paper is something like a "sociology of societal data" (Albert D. Biderman),
Social ?1993 Indicators Research Klu wer Academic

whose
29: 1?62, Publishers.

main
1993. Printed

purpose

is according

to Biderman

in the Netherlands.

2

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ROTHENBACHER

of political, and other institutional (1966: p. 73) the "identification for gaps and low standardization barriers in data about responsible crucial social phenomena". The origins of social reporting can at least be seen in three points: an expert the United Nations in 1954 requested Firstly already to explore the possibilities to conceptualize commission and measure what was called then the "standard of living". This mission was due to sets forth the promotion which of of the United Nations standards of living" as a general goal (United Nations, 1954: p. "higher the so-called "com originated iii). From the work of this commission the Charter to social indicators which was elaborated approach" by the UN in the following decades. systematically The second is located in the important origin of social reporting USA. In the early sixties the NA.S.A. the American Academy requested to study the indirect effects of the space pro of Arts and Sciences ponent gramme experts societal work 1986/87: society p. 235ff). The (Fattaccini, a system of social statistics to measure to establish proposed on the whole. From welfare this point of departure further differentiated into several directions. On the one hand there was annual Report" social reports governmental of the President (annually on American

the vision of producing developed as a complement to the "Economic since statistics 1947). This available sort for

of "social report" should contain all social a comprehensive of the peoples' description the need for living conditions. On the other hand there was formulated social indicator systems as a tool for the measurement and evaluation of national events. goal

attainment,

advance

warning,

and

forecasting

of

social

connected with the second point is a third one, also origi Neatly in the 60s in the USA. The unique economic nating growth which was also connected with growing societal problems demon (e.g. pollution) strated that economic indicators alone, and the GNP as master indi do not suffice for a true picture of socio-economic cator, development. This criticism on economic to were indicators alternatives possible alternative discussed the System the so-called in general of National led to the depiction of Accounts. The first

"social accounting systems". The monetary should be substituted by taking the individual approach as counting unit. But on the whole these systems were only thought of

APPROACHES

IN SOCIAL

REPORTING

3

as supplementary to the national accounts (see Zapf, 1973: p. 280ff). A ? most recent development which the ambitious social gives up ? is the development of satellite accounts which accounting approach are indeed able to correct central economic to make them indicators more of societal welfare. sum up, so the invention and innovation center can truly be seen in the USA.2 Very early this new direction of applied social science known to international became national ministries and organizations, To statistical ment tists. The different there were offices. The spread to universities commissions partly (e.g. Sweden), spread of social reporting from country to country was very the singular traits of this movement. This means: concerning was partly due to govern to network contacts of scien valid measures

actors engaged between in social reporting, big differences in underlying theories of social reporting, in continuity and institutional

and in products. The following sections will present more anchoring, detailed information on these topics. The true and great phase of development of social reporting were In the 80s there were distinct the 70s. scientific signs of declining financial and institutional interest, as well as a diminished support. international organizations and national statistical offices stopped their programmes after some years. But there are also distinct tend to the contrary which point to stabilization encies and even ongoing growth of social reoprting. So there can be named international organi zations as the WHO for example, which have intensified their activities in this field tremendously. A further and new driving the growing influence of the European Communities by on the supranational level to the national systems of which are totally new for some countries and therefore on ment the elaboration of social of social reporting reporting. is ambivalent. So force could gain putting requests data production Some

put a constraint the perspective of develop an Social data are becoming

unrenouncable common removal

this ingredient of statistics, politics and science. Beyond denominator there are still so much whose divergences are likely to need years. An integration and harmonization is

still far away.

4 2. International

FRANZ INTER- AND

ROTHENBACHER SUPRANATIONAL EFFORTS

most

towards are efforts the building up of social reporting visible at the UN. Already a in 1954 there was established early to give the measurement commission of the concept of "living standard" concreteness. the definition

more

The main result was the component and approach of singular indicators. This component divides approach the "living standard" into singular near to reality components as health, etc. instead of a comprehensive education index of living standard. The were accepted of this commission recommendations in 1961 by the Interim Guide. for The indicator indicators comprise or areas of (resp. fields on the level of living and labour force, income system should the (a) besides social concern) (c) fundamental and expenditure,

components indicators (b) also general on population informations and communication and transport.

By the end of the 1960s the work on indicators was resumed within the development of a Framework for the Integration of Social, Demo and other Statistics (FSDS). This work graphic and Related Economic ended in 1974 in the technical Statistics, Demographic report Towards a System of Social and the still most prominent on social publication accompanied by efforts within the component a list of international com preliminary guidelines but

systems. accounting The work on social towards approach. the formulation So in 1978 (UN indicators

systems was accounting of social indicators there was 1978:

parable and illustrative

proposed Social indicators:

series). Since about that time one can distinguish related work: First indicators.

three types of separate

the formulation, standardization and recommendation of social The most recent progress is marked by the "Handbook of Social Indicators" to relevant sources and (from 1989) which points methods and proposes comparative indicators including disaggregations. the promotion Second of approaches to supplement aimed the accounts national to increase as a welfare its validity according measure 1977: The feasibility measures to (UN of welfare-oriented the national accounts and balances: a technical report; UN supplement 1979: Studies in the integration of social statistics: a technical report).

APPROACHES Third the furtherance

IN SOCIAL REPORTING

5

and of the methodology for the systematization and social statistics coming from different integration of demographic sources (UN 1979: The development of integrated data bases for social, economic for and methods 1986: Concepts and demographic statistics', UN and statistics on health, education social and economic integrating

housing). from this: since the beginning of the 80s the UN have devoted Apart on special population to the development of indicators themselves the elderly, The groups dealt with are women, groups. youth, children, and disabled with ? ? ? youth: disabled persons. Special attention to these groups is connected the following women: Decade programmes: Woman's Year in 1985. in 1975. United Nations

International forWomen. International

Youth Year International

in of Disabled Persons Year persons: of Action Disabled Per 1982. World Concerning Programme sons. UN Decade of Disabled Persons. on Aging in 1982. International

?

the elderly: World Assembly Plan of Action on Aging. this also sectoral domains

Besides

drug consumption), are given growing tion) in these growing problems

environment

as crime and criminal justice (esp. and consumption (esp. food consump attention. This shift in attention is due to fields and the interest of users in data

these population groups resp. domains. concerning The UN do not alone work on methodological but also questions in the form of statistical compendiums collect statistical data, mostly of social (Table I). So by 1991 the fourth edition of the compendium statistics nation was trend towards to offer most statistical data there is a strong published. Concerning of statistical data bases and the dissemi the construction statistics

to the public. So it is planned for the 1990s as data bases on diskette. Already now the two indicator data bases on women and disabled persons social (WISTAT) are available. (DISTAT) the Statistical Office of the UN also the special organizations Besides and other organizations of the UN-system have dealt with social indicators. of data on diskette

TABLE I
Statistical Organiza? ion United Nations (UN) Title of publication compendiums on social indicators: international organizations Survey year/ publication year 1, 1963; 2. 1967; 3. 1977; 4, 1986 I. 1985 1975-1986 1. 1974; 2. 1976; 3. 1980 1.1985 planned for 1992ff 1. 1950-64; 2. 1960-72; 3, 1968-76 3.1986 1990

Responsible institution StatisticalOffice Statistical Office StatisticalOffice StatisticalOffice StatisticalOffice StatisticalOffice ILO ILO ILO ILO InternationalBank forRecon struction andDevelopment (IBRD) IBRD IBRD IBRD IBRD WHO UNESCO FAO FAO UNRISD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development EUROSTAT EUROSTAT

Compendium of Social Statistics Compendium of Statistics and Indicatorson the Situation ofWomen Statistical Indicatorsof Youth Disability Statistics Data Base Compendium of Housing Statistics National Accounts Statistics:Compendium of income Distribution Statistics ILO LAHORSTA data base' Household income and expenditure statistics (HIES) Economically active population: Estimates and projections Yearbook of Labour Statistics. Retrospective edition on population censuses 1945-1989 World Bank (IBRD) 1. World Tables 2. World Development Report 3. Social Indicatorsof Development 4. World Debt Tables 5. World Bank Atlas Health foi All by theYear 2000 Cultural Statistics Database Agriculture: toward 2000 AGROSTAT-PC Research Data Bank of Development Indicators Living Conditions inOECD Countries Social Indicatorsof the European Community Social Portrait of Europe

1.1976; 2. 1980; 3. 1983; 4, 5. 1988-89; 6, 1989-90: 7, 1. 1978 ?. 1987 1. 1979 1. 1979 plunncd 1983 1991? 1960-1970(1976) 1986 1960-75; 1960-78;

WHO UNESCO FAO UNRISD OECD European Communities (EC) Council of Mutual Economic Assistence (CMEA) In 1989 available

1960-1

1991 was planned for the end of th

online

internally.

APPROACHES The International Labour

IN SOCIAL REPORTING

7

employment, and expenditures, conditions, wages security, working the two serial publications Yearbook and salaries. The ILO publishes of and Bulletin this there Labour Statistics of Labour Statistics. Besides social income are published a plurality of ad-hoc-statistics. In 1979 ILO published the on Household Income and Expenditure third edition of the compendium In 1990 a historical is until now without Statistics which successor.3 on population censuses was and occupation 1945?1989 compendium published. ardization An of field of activity of the ILO is the stand important labour statistics. The ILO data base on labour statistics will be available on diskette in the neartime.

on explicit programme are but the central Its publications

an (ILO) did not develop Organization indicator systems or of level of living-research. source for the domains

and Agricultural in 1979 a (FAO) accepted Organization Programme of Action for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. ? on Agrarian and Rural Development (World Conference Reform In the frame of the implementation of this programme WCARRD). a socio-economic there was developed indicator programme for moni on the and evaluation of agrarian reform and rural development toring are in the first line to level. The intentions of this programme national in monitoring and evaluating developments in agriculture. at first to developing this programme is directed countries. Naturally in the construction This programme has resulted of the data base A GROSTA T-PC which is available on diskette. aid countries The tion United Nations and Cultural Organiza Educational, Scientific since 1973 a plurality of activities for the promotes

(LABORSTA) The Food

(UNESCO) indicators for development utilization of socio-economic planning. several workshop UNESCO published reports on this topic (see the An own indicator system for the component "education" bibliography). was not developed. In the last time UNESCO worked on the develop ment The accepted of a Framework indicators. Strategy for Health for in 1981 by the World Health All by the Year 2000 was Global for Cultural Statistics (FCS) and the formulation of cultural

The goal of this Assembly. strategy is to ensure that all people on earth could lead a social and life. The Global economical also a list productive Strategy contains can serve for the evaluation of indicators which and monitoring of

8

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ROTHENBACHER

several publication series this strategy. Just now there were published The member countries have the World Health Organization (WHO). by in their countries with quantified delivered reports on the situation indicators. and Social Development Bank of Reconstruction International ? ? started in the end of the 70s its short World Bank (IBRD) in the field of the application of social indicators. manifold activities The Since 1979 the World and social Bank on economic the annual World Bank Atlas publishes indicators. In 1978 there was issued the first which contains in the annex are the World time series of

World Development indicators. Further 1976 specific sort of

Report

and the Social

since Tables important publications Indicators of Development least since 1987). A (at indicators are layed down in the World Debt Tables

stem from a huge (since 1979). The time series of this data collection data data base of annual data for all countries of the world. All collections The are offered on diskette in the meanwhile. Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) was established by Bank in 1980 to assess the possibilities the World of the improvement of type and quality of household statistical surveys of Third World data as a basis for policy should be used stronger offices. Household than before. In this connection and Survey (LSS) was developed tries. The income, components health, education, fertility, food assessed. utilization publishes concentrates The of analyses household data on first the comprehensive Living Standards in 1985 implemented in some coun consumption, savings, employment, are and migration housing the need of an intensified and evaluation. LSMS LSMS Though and results are Research

supply, demonstrate

for monitoring

its results

in the LSMS

developing important for social reporting is also true for the work This

Papers. Working its methods countries, in general. of the United

Nations

Institute for Social Development has worked since (UNRISD). UNRISD the 1960s on the methodological of social reporting for development countries. Thereto contributions developing belong conceptual for defi of social concepts as e.g. poverty or income nition and measurement distribution. On the other side there were for the measurement for the test of of socio-economic systems. through pilot projects on the local level development These case studies are impor carried

local monitoring

APPROACHES tant for the more

IN SOCIAL REPORTING

9

new questions to social indicators research UNRISD indicators data base which embraces and also includes

general research and offer solutions.

on levels of living, because they arise of A second important contribution the development of a social the time points 1960 and 1970 1 million countries (countries with was

the developed moreover its task as research defines and over). UNRISD inhabitants a meeting to this UNRISD of experts in held coordination. According Indicators. The meeting 1991 (in Rabat) on Social Development April to take stock of recent work in the field of social had three purposes: new low cost methods of collecting, indicators; analyzing and dissemi nating of social data; to suggest areas of new research. the Organization the UN-system Outside especially for Economic has dealt with the develop and Development (OECD) Co-operation ment countries for the developed industrialized indicators of social on the formulation the early 1970s. In the 70s, work concentrated since countries. of social concerns which should be binding upon all member

A next step was the formulation of indicators as concrete data series for in 1981. The these social concerns. The list of indicators was published of these indicators; third and until now last step was the quantification was terminated by the of the OECD the social indicators programme in 1986. Besides these main of a statistical compendium publication activities different with One dation initiated a studies series with methodical papers on of the quality of life. This series was finished in 1982 aspects in addition several workshops. paper no. 8. The OECD organized was started in 1978, namely the recommen initiative important OECD

states. But to carry through comprehensive surveys in all member was followed few European this recommendation countries, only by to the UN In contrary and Austria. them Sweden, Finland among the research within system which gives only little room to attitudinal on social also intensively dealt with the devel indicators, OECD of subjective or attitudinal indicators and discussion (see the of the Nordic Council regional organization the Nordic Statistical Secretariat (Copenhagen) of general its framework statistical coordination for a uniform organized (NC) has and

work opment

bibliography). The Scandinavian in connection worked within harmonization According with

also

to this were

for level of living surveys. procedure several conferences. the head Under

10 of the Nordic

FRANZ Statistical

ROTHENBACHER

Secretariat

the nordic the OECD level of

comprehensive 1983 (Vogel,

were also published the results of initiated by surveys (in Sweden and Finland) and 1984). Besides the standardization of

Statistical Secretariat also dealt with living surveys the Nordic the integration of social, economic and demographic statistics (FSDS). on Statistics of the Council for Mutual The Standing Commission Economic "unified between 1971 and 1980 on a (CMEA) worked of social indicators", laid down in The system of basic system indicators for social statistics and in the companion work, (1976) Assistance

calculation methods: The system of basic indicators for social containing statistics: Methods calculation of (1978). The final version of the system was accepted in 1980. It embraces 16 fields of social concerns which are in their basic structure very similar to the UN-components. The purpose statistics of the system is firstly countries of member the promotion of the standardization of for an improvement of international

than an accumulation of system claims to be more but wants to use the possibilities of the interrelations between the singular indicators for more ambitious analyses. The in a way that allows the assessment system is at the same time planned of the movement of individuals through the singular social systems by The comparisons. indicators singular flow matrices, the existence of the data needed presumed. Singular tests of this indicator system were carried through in bilateral between the member countries Hungary and Poland resp. comparisons and Hungary. In a progress of the Statistical Com Yugoslavia report integrated mission of the UN of October 1984 last stage of the work of the CMEA of a statistical compendium. This it is said that is was planned as the on social indicators the publication should have been the first CMEA on fundamental statistical information life of

with comprehensive publication social phenomena and the way of countries of CMEA. The dissolution

to this endeavour. But this does no substantial work in CMEA-countries. much social in eastern

the population in member in 1991 has put an end CMEA of not mean that there would have been On since the contrary, there the seventies. But is

a reporting Europe review of social reporting in eastern Europe would be a separate study. The Statistical Office of the European Communities (EUROSTAT) began in 1975 with the work on selecting social indicators, oriented at the Communities' of social statistics was spcial policy. The extension

APPROACHES laid down on

IN SOCIAL

REPORTING of 1974. Much renounced

11 earlier yet to the annual on the elabo

tables

social

in the Social Action Programme statistics were contained EUROSTAT

in the annex

Report on Social Developments. ration of an explicit indicator

St?che, 1980) and system (see however collection of statistical data, partly because of budgetary the subsequent coun restrictions, partly because of sceptic attitudes of some member to collect a statistical the necessary

of the impossibility tries and partly because countries. The result was data for all member

compendium in in analogy to the component approach of the UN, which composed in 1980 followed the second for the first time. Already 1977 appeared in 1984. In 1991 EUROSTAT edition. The third edition appeared

a successor to the "Social Indicators" volume with the title published of data management, Social Portrait of Europe using modern methods in EUROSTAT data analysis and graphical presentation. experimented also with subjective the beginning indicators, e.g. there were organized (mainly towards health, public attitudes in 1980); another, tries (published towards the conditions of working "subjective" satisfactions surveys for the assessment in 1977 and and of perceptions, aspirations to A small survey was devoted 1978). in 8 coun health services and housing published life. in 1978, studied attitudes

3. COMPETING Starting from the work

APPROACHES: the OECD

NATIONS and other became international

of the UN,

interested in European there can be In nearly every western European country in the 70s. The activities as well as found activities of social reporting Not in every the actors and the products were extremely heterogeneous. and was western European social reporting became continuous country organizations, social reporting. several western countries institutionalized. social reporting series were discontinued countries any announced (GR, L, P); after the first publication (E, B, I); in still other the succession of different actors and there can be discerned activities in other For a series of countries it is impossible countries to find

few countries have been able to put approaches (D, A, CH). Only basis. In this respect the social reporting on a stable and continuous brilliant states stand out among others, most welfare Scandinavian shaped by the Swedish approach; measured by constancy and volume

12

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ROTHENBACHER

is second and Denmark of reporting Norway third; Finland has only in the Dutch social reporting. Furthermore the last years institutionalized of social report state and France have a differentiated welfare system that the government is characterized by the peculiarity, ing. Germany engagement stopped research groups. The intention ment of the public after some years and most of the work is done by

on the most general level firstly the enlighten on social developments in society; secondly, the inte a coherent within frame for governments gration of disparate material and evaluation Third, monitoring agencies planning etc.). (ministries, accounts the supplement of social developments. national Fourth, of social accounts. through has been National group, work as differs as well to according its type. The manifold institution, intention, target in empirical combinations

a very heterogeneous in reality produce picture of social reporting some main western Europe. But nonetheless there can be distinguished in social reporting. These are depicted graphically in Figures approaches land 2: of living research conditions: (Scandinavia: statistics DK, N, S, SF) by components (F, E, I, A,

(1) Level (3) Living (4) (5) Social Social

(2) Quality of life research (A,D, NL) social CH,GB) reporting indicator (nearly all countries) systems (CH, D)

(6) SocialAccounting Matrices (S AMs) (UN: SSDS, NL) Satellite systems (F,D) (7)
(1) Level of living research (Figure and was elaborated most countries Swedish 1) is specific for the Scandinavian in Sweden, both by the clearly and the Central (SOFI, Stockholm) This 1961 approach is strongly and later on and uses The usefulness The some of a same excep resource the is is denied.

Institute for Social Research Bureau of Statistics (SCB, Stockholm/?rebr?). in the UN-recommendations oriented of subsequently the component or other level-of-living-index approach

of welfare. measures

tions

true for subjective for SF, N, most

approach,

indicators, and DK). The clearly developed

synthetic which are not assessed underlying in Sweden,

(with is the theory which

underlines

APPROACHES

IN SOCIAL REPORTING

13

an individual can dispose. of the resources So it is not importance is doing with its income, but important is so interesting what a person it is that it has a sufficient and most equal share of the national wealth; is associated with the income also not so important which satisfaction position, for there is no intention to influence satisfaction and other states as the degree of happiness etc. Another for argument personal is the narrow interrelated the use of the objective component approach ness with the macrosocial institutions of society and politics (Erikson/ Uusitalo, 1987;T?hlin, 1990). can be termed quality of life research The second approach (2) for instruments (Figure 1) (Nasss, 1987; Mourn, 1990). The principal of the quality of life are surveys combining the assessment both objec tive and subjective elements. The terminology varies from the Dutch over the German Wohlfahrtssurvey Leefsituatiesurvey (LSS) (welfare to the Austrian Subjective quality of life-survey. The principal survey) to the level of living approach is the general difference inclusion of and subjective indicators (questions) into objective can be found in Germany and the Netherlands. a special survey on subjective quality conducted in indicators, but there is not only a difference theory which stands with behind approach satisfaction is substituted as the questionnaire, In Austria there was of also life in 1984. But a difference in

resource the subjective The questions. a need approach the assessment of by including the objective and events of components, aspirations

and frustration. This research strategy is partly due to scien happiness tific curiosity and to evaluate objective research findings; on the other side it is seen to assess "the immanent life goal of human beings, to live is at happy and satisfied" (Schulz et al., 1988: p. 172). This purpose when the results are used by politics in the sense of least problematic or maximizing of the subjective optimizing quality of life, because character of the underlying It is also a philo supposition. ? not solvable by science ? what the ultime life goal sophical question of human beings is in reality. is most neatly oriented at official statistics (3) The third approach a most differentiated and represents and intelligent presentation of all available statistics (mostly censuses and sample surveys) in the form of normative or social statistical comprehensive compendiums reports. (statistical) Most of this work use a component in some sense (e.g. Social approach

14

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IS&8I ?Bill

Level of living research Quality of life research
Living No conditions approach surveys on social well-being

comprehensive

Fig.

1. Main

national

survey

approaches

to social

reporting

in western

Europe.

APPROACHES

IN SOCIAL REPORTING

15

and can therefore be Sociali, Panor?mica Trends, Statistiche Social) or as social statistics by compo named as living conditions approach are mostly statistical compendiums nents (Figure 1). These serial, that of means year intervals. Most they appear either annually or at 3?4 contain only objective data. One important excep these compendiums tion is the German Data Report. the most brilliant example of this sort of social reporting are Perhaps of this sort are also to be Publications Sociales. the French Donn?es found in Spain Social), {Panor?mica of Living Conditions), Italy {Statistiche Sociali), Denmark United Kingdom {Social Trends), Switzerland Indikatoren), {Soziale

{Distribution Austria Daten), {Sozialstatistische Germany {Sosialt Utsyn). {Datenreport) and Norway can be found in Social reporting as a more general endeavour (4) it be reporting by statistical in some sense, may all countries nearly Social and intermediate organizations. the science, or ministries offices, can be subdivided into sectoral reports and functional reports. reports Sectoral reports are those on specific sections of society (e.g. health, the family); functional education, reports are those which deal with to the components, for instance societal problems lying horizontally on poverty. A third category of social reports may be termed reports

is the ultimate goal of social reports. This category comprehensive an annual report on the social develop in the sense of giving reporting ment of a society in analogy to already existing economic reports (e.g. Economic the German Gutachten Report of the US-President (1947ff), des Sachverst?ndigenrates (1964ff)).4 ? ? were social indicator systems originated (5) The fifth approach The OECD took over the and recommended by the UN (Figure 2). since 1970 until idea of the UN social indicators approach and worked countries and which the OECD

the early 80s on an indicator system for OECD recommendations became well known. Both the UN approach

indicator for the development of national gave examples there this path. In Germany followed systems, but only two countries was established in 1977, including Indicators Tableau the SPES-Social are nearly the same as construction 196 indicators, whose principles those of the UN and the OECD. in 1981 The some Federal Statistical Switzerland has collected 130 indicators Office of for 12 compo

16 nents.5 Other

FRANZ

ROTHENBACHER social indicator

very doubtful systems, about the practicability of such systems.6 are efforts for integrating Matrices (SAMs) (6) Social Accounting sources of statistical data into a coherent frame (Figure 2). different of work stems from two publications The origin of this direction by Richard to build up a system of social and 1975) or later FSDS, Framework for Social and demographic (SSDS this approach is mainly used Demographic Statistics). By this moment here work is underway in the Netherlands: for socio-demographic accounts SAMs socio-economic and labour accounts. With accounts, Stone (1971 statistics and there is introduced a dynamic element; ? if there are time series subgroups of society. So for example segment accounts one can trace the births stages of the life-cycle. systems (7) Satellite it is possible ? available within year the to trace the path of through a defined through socio-demographic the different

west European countries did not establish the central statistical offices were especially

of one

et al., 1988; Reich and (Reich and Stahmer et al., 1986) are the most recent and actual approach to the are thought Oi as measurement of societal welfare (Figure 2). They to the national accounts and should correct the national supplements Stahmer not yet included (e.g. household for societal production pro and not directly welfare oriented duction) (e.g. the costs for the pro tection of the environment which to the gross domestic is added product). domains were first developed accounts Satellite in France for the social protection and environment. Satellite health, education, accounts contain besides monetary information also social indicators, i.e. information on physical units. accounts

4. PLURALITY SOURCES At

OF PRODUCTS:

FOR SOCIAL REPORTING sources which can be used for

especially reporting So for example the population are a general statis censuses purposes. tical source which can also be used for social reporting; comprehensive are in contrast to this surveys on social well-being especially designed for social reporting purposes.

this point there must be distinguished social reporting and sources produced

for social

APPROACHES

IN SOCIAL REPORTING

17

%&Z?Sk

^^$fA Social ?Bill

indicator systems

Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs)
Satellite systems approaches

::x:::::::

No

system

Fig.

2.

"System

approaches"

in social

reporting

in western

Europe.

TABLE II
Population Country AL A B BG CS DK GB FR D SF F DDR GBZ GB GR H IS IRL GBM I FL L M MC NL GB N PL P RC) RSM GB E S CI I TR GB SU YU Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Denmark England andWales Faroe Islands ' Federal Republic of Germany Finland France German Democratic Republic Gibraltar Great Britain2 Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Isleof Man Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Romania SanMarino Scotland Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom U.S.S.R. Yugoslavia pre 1800 1800-19 1820-39 censuses 1840-49 in Europe 1850-59 1860-69

1870-79

1857 1856 1850 1850.55 1851 1850.55

1869 1866 1860 1861 I860 1865 1861.66

1876 1870 1871

1769,87

1801 1801. II

1834.37 1821.31 1834

1840,45 1841 1840.45

1851,56

1871,75 1870,75 1872,76 1871

1828. 1838-1845 1787 1703. 29 1659 1821.31 1838 1841 1846

1853.56 1851,55.57 1850,55 1851 1857-58

I860 1861 1861

1870,79 1870 1870 1871 1871

1861 1795 1769 1801.15 1801 1838 1857 1855 1830 1825,35 1859 1855 1869 1866 1864 1860 1860 I860 I860

1871 1879 1876 1878

1787,97

1873.77 1870 1870

1851 1875

TABLE II (Continued)
Country AL A B BG CS DK GB FR D SF F DDR GBZ GB GR II IS IRL GBM I FL L M MC NL GB N PL P RO RSM GB E S CH TR GB SU YU The Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Denmark England andWales Faroe Islands ' Federal Republic of Germany Finland France German Democratic Republic Gibraltar Great Britain2 Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Isleof Man Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands Northern Ireland Nor\va> Poland Portugal Romania SanMarino Scotland Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom U.S.S.R. Yugoslavia 1910 1910 1910 1910 1911.. 16 1911 1911 1910. 19 1910 1911 1911 1913 1910. 17 1910 1911 1911 1910 1911 1920.23 1920 1920.26 1920.21 1921.25 1921 1921.25 1925 1920 1921.26 1921 1920.23,28 1920 1920 1926 1921 1922.27 1921 1920 1926 1920 1921 1920 1921 1920 1920 1920 1927 1930.35 1931 1930 1937.39 1930 1931 1930 1930 1931 1930 1930.36 1930 1935 1930-39 1934 1930 1934 1930 J 930. 35 1931 1930.35 1933.35. 39 1930 1931.36 1931 1936 1930.38 1930 1936 1940.47 1941.49 1940 1941.46 1944 1947 1948 1947 1946 1946 1940 1948 1947 1940 1940.45 1941 1940.45 1951 1950 1950 1950 1956 1951 1950 1950 1950 1950.55 1959 1953 1950-59 1955 1951 1950.51 1956 1950 1950.55 1951 1950.55 1950 1950 1954 1951 1951 1951 1950 1951. 56 1951 1950 1900 1961 1961 1965 1961 1960,65 1961.66 1960.66 1961 1960 1962,68 1964 1961 1961.66 196 I 1960 1960 1961,66 1961.66 1961 1960 1960. 66 1967 1961.62.68 1960 1961. 66 I960 I96?) 1960 1966 1961.66 1960 1960.65 1960 1960.65 1961.66 1961

1947 1946 1940.45 1945 1946 1940 1946 1945.46

1911 1913 1911 1910 1910 1910

1910

1920. 22. 23. 25. 26. 30. 34. 35. 37. 39 1921 1931.36 1948 in the Danish censuses. Scotland. from the National Register

are included pre 1935 censuses Channel and Wales, Islands, England Annual data are available population

since

1961

20

FRANZ

ROTHENBACHER

? as a broad category ? Censuses including different census types are one of the most the important sources for social reporting. Within censuses on the whole there can at least be distinguished three different censuses, b) housing types of censuses: a) population (and occupation) and c) censuses of establishments. often these different censuses, Very framework types of censuses are assessed at one date within a common the important fact that censuses embrace the total II). Besides and enable us therefore for regional analysis, census data population become can be combined when with other especially important they (Table statistical systems, statistics. sources. This where

is possible in all national the personal identification code

statistical is used

information

in all different

source for social surveys are the second most important we can distinguish In a first subdivision reporting. a) comprehensive microcensuses from b) thematic sample surveys. (a) Microcensuses (Table III) have a relatively high sample size and are in contrast to other sample surveys as they embrace multiscopic and family statistics, employment, population housing and other statis are concentrated tics. But microcensuses on some continental German speaking countries and the United Kingdom. Sample of the other countries use a plurality of thematic (b) Most this group one of the most important surveys is the surveys. Within budget survey (Table IV). This survey type (ba) Household now can be found in all countries contains data on European hold income and consumption and is therefore a central source study of the living situation and living standards of social groups. very important survey type is the time budget (bb) Another in the last decade there was growing (Table V). Only recognition of this survey type for several importance research. So time budget data are especially because fields sample which house for the

survey of the and

women

and it is possible to study womans work in the policy, of family. Time budget surveys are also used now for the improvement national accounts as a system for the calculation of welfare production the measurement Bechtold of household 1990; thematic 1988; and Ehling, important production (Ehling and Sch?fer, and von Schweitzer et al, Ehling survey is the labour force survey

of knowledge important for family

by

1991).
(be) Another

TABLE
Microcensuses

III
Europe

in western

Country

Type

of survey

Survey years

Periodicity

Survey method

Survey unit

A B CH D DK E F GB GR I IRL L N NL P S SF

Microcensus

with special programmes Enquete Socio-?conomique Microcensus with special programmes Microcensus with special programmes no comprehensive microcensus no comprehensive microcensus no comprehensive microcensus General Household no comprehensive no comprehensive no comprehensive no comprehensive no comprehensive no comprehensive no comprehensive no comprehensive no comprehensive Survey (GHS) microcensus microcensus microcensus microcensus microcensus microcensus microcensus microcensus microcensus

1968

A S A A

1977
1986 1957

qu. interview interview interview interview

H H H H

1971

qu.

interview

A Annual; ;1
Every

S Singular;
40.000

H Household

4 years

households.

TABLE IV
Household budget surveys in western Europe

Country

Type of survey

Survey years 1954/55; 1974,84 1961,73/74,78/79 1912 1962,69,73,78,83,88 1976,81,87 1958,64,68,74,80/81 1985 1977-83 1965-72,1989 1959? 1957/58,63/64,81/82 1968 1951/52,65/66,73,80,87 1956/57,63/64,77,86/87 1974 1963/65,80,86 1970,1980/81 1980/90 1958,69,78,85,88 1966,72,76,81,85

Periodicity

Survey method part of microcens. interview 7 interview interview interview interview interview

Surve uni H H H H H H

A B CH D DK E

Konsumerhebung Budget des m?nages Haushaltsrechnungen Einkommens- u. Verbrauchsstichprobe Forbrugsundcrsogelsen Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares

0A

Encuesta Continua de Presupuestos Familiares (ECPF) Encuesta Permanente de Consumo Enquete permanente sur les GB GR I IRL L N NL P budgets familiaux Family Expenditure Survey (FES) Household Expenditure Survey I consumi delle famiglie Household Budget Survey Budgets Familiaux Survey of consumer expenditure National family budget survey Inqu?rito as receitas e despesas familiares Inquerito aos orcamentos familiares 1989-1990 Hush?llens utgifter Income and consumption

A A I A I I I I 10A 10A I I

interview interview/diary

H H H H H H H

interview interview

S SF

interview interview

H H H

A Annual;

I Irregular; H Household

TABLE V
Time budget surveys in western Europe

Country

Name

of survey

Survey years

Periodicity

Survey method

Sampl size

(person A B CH D DK E F GB GR I IRL L N NL P S SF Microcensus special programme Culture and leisure Microcensus, Belgian time budget survey Radio-television survey of young people Time budget survey Time budget survey Time budget survey Tidsanvendelsundersogelse no survey available Etude des emplois du temps Time budget survey Time budget survey no survey available Indagine multiscopo no survey available no survey available sulle famiglic 1981 1974,84 I S 1973/74 S interview interview diary + quest. interview diary 1992 I I 1985 I diary diary diary interview interview 3.700 20.000 2.077

1965 S
1970/71;

1979/80 S 1965 S
Oct. 1991-Sept. 1961,1975,1987 1966,1974/75, 1983/84 S 1983/84 S 1987?

500 45.000IN

24.000IN 1.300 10.000

ISTAT

Tidsnyttingsundersokelsen/ The Time Budget Survey De tijdsbesteding van de Nederlandse 1987/Time use survey bcvolking ' no survey available Survey of Living Conditions (leisure time activities) Time use study

1971-72. 1987 1976,1982/83 1979;1987/88

1980-81

diary diary interview diary

5.205

all perso 7.000 10.500

A Annual;

S Singular;

I Irregular;

IN Individual

24 which

FRANZ can now be found

ROTHENBACHER in some way

in every West

European

country

(TableVI). these three main types of sample surveys there exist a (bd) Besides lot of ad-hoc and very specialized surveys in several countries. Countries with a great spectrum of different kinds of ad-hoc surveys are espe 1987; INSEE, 1977/1987), cially France (see Desabie, Health interview survey), demand survey, (Housing (New Earnings and occupation Survey), the Netherlands United Kingdom

Italy (different family surveys), Norway (Family and Spain (Encuesta de fecundidad). survey) thematic surveys there are also widespread surveys on (c) Besides To these belong for example: groups. special population (ca) (cb) (cc) (cd) This social surveys on foreigners and guest workers (D, NL) surveys on children (N, D) surveys on ethnic minorities (NL: Surinams and Antilleans) on youth surveys (NL) and the elderly (NL). type of survey reporting research mostly already belongs to the domain of in most cases originating from the statistical although

offices. are one of the main surveys on social well-being (d) Comprehensive of social reporting. They can be divided into level of living products the first type of surveys and quality of life surveys (Table VII). While the second type also survey only deals with objective living conditions, includes the subjective dimension. The comprehensiveness of the surveys a wide is very because embrace they range of social important, So the relation between domains and cumulation of defi can be studied on the level of the individual. and advantages The quality of life surveys are useful for the study of the relationship states and their evaluation between objective through the respondents. no means as several studies have shown. This relationship is by simple domains. ciencies So this latter survey type can answer in the population. satisfaction The Until statistics registers sample third main now source for social the question of the degree of need

reporting are administrative registers. is not very widespread the register-based in official approach in Europe. With this term is meant the use of administrative censuses as a basis of data calculation for population and may illustrate this topic:

surveys. Some examples

TABLE VI
Labour force surveys in western Europe

Country

Type of survey

Survey years

Periodicity

Survey method

Survey unit

B CH D DK E F GB GR I IRL L N NL

S SF

Microcensus with special programmes Includes: Labour force survey Labour force survey Schweiz. Arbeuskr?ftecrhebung (SAKE) Microcensus with special programmes Includes: Labour force survey Labour force survey 1967; Encuesta de poblaci?n activa Enquete population active Labour Force Survey (LFS) Labour force survey 198 I A Labour force survey Labour force survey Labour force survey Labour force survey Labour force survey 1960; Continuous labour force survey Inqueiilo at) empiego Continuous 1974survey on employment Labour Force Survey (LFS) Labour force sample survey 1959? Labour force interview survey

1968? A 1973? 2A 1991? A 1957? A ? 197A 1 A 1964?; 1976? 1962?: 1977?A: 1973A ? 1958? I '4A 2 1975-; 1983-A:A 1973? 2A 1972? 1