International comparisons – Types and methods

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Szilágyi, György¹

Note: [1] György Szilágyi joined the Hungarian Central Statistical Office in 1960. He has been head of Section of International Comparisons since 1967 and senior adviser since 1980. He is also professor of the University of Economic Sciences in Budapest. He got his academic doctor's degree in 1982. Secretary of the Statistical Commission of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. In 1968 he was staff member on short-term appointment to the UN Statistical Office. Invited speaker and discussant at various UN and IARIW meetings.

Abstract: In this article some basic aspects of international comparisons are discussed. Particular comparison projects will only be referred to by way of example. The objective is to clarify some general problems of the vast area of statistical activity called international comparisons. This activity has been growing rapidly during the last three decades, involving more and more countries, and new areas, by developing and refining the methods. International statistical recommendations in various fields acted as prerequisites for numerical excercises. It is time to make an attempt of systematization, primarily for the sake of better orientation in the various methods. The discussion is confined to international comparisons of macro economic categories and closely related areas. Projects like conversion keys between various classification systems and similar activities are excluded from consideration here.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-1984-2402

Journal: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 345-355, 1984