The Austrian System of Official Social Surveys

Transcription

1 The Austrian System of Official Social Surveys Reinhard Eichwalder (Statistics Austria) Official Social Surveys in Europe. Edited by F. Kraus and G. Schmaus EuReporting Working Paper No. 34 Towards a European System of Social Reporting and Welfare Measurement A TSER-Project Financed by the European Commission Subproject Access to Comparative Microdata Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES), Eurodata Research Archive and Centre for Populaton, Poverty and Public Policy Studies (CEPS), Panel Comparability Project Paco Mannheim 2001

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3 Editors' note: 'Official Social Surveys in Europe' is a series of commissioned working papers whose major aim is to provide basic information on the availability of and access to major official survey data in Western Europe relevant for problem-oriented social reporting on Europe. The working papers provide background information on data infrastructures; a summary of survey profiles and access conditions for a set of major official social surveys; The papers are supplemented by detailed, standardised survey documentation made available on the Internet at the home-page of the subproject at the Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES) 1. In addition to common documentation items, information also covers a set of major classification variables with respect to the availability and concepts/definitions. In compiling this information, authors could usually use as a point of reference meta-information made available to the project by Eurostat, Directorate E. The information system on the Internet can be queried either to retrieve blocks of information for a single survey, or to compare single items (such as definition and measurement of household relationships) across a set of surveys. 1 Currently accessible at (select 'Survey profiles' )

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5 1. OFFICIAL STATISTICS: ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND LEGAL ISSUES THE RÔLE OF STATISTICS AUSTRIA USER REPRESENTATION IN COUNCILS THE EVOLUTION OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEYS IN AUSTRIA THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF FEDERAL ENUMERATIONS TREND TOWARDS AN INCREASING USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SOURCES FEDERAL COLLECTION PROGRAMMES IN THE FIELD OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATISTICS: Surveys Administrative sources: SURVEYS ON PERSONS/HOUSEHOLDS: SURVEY HARMONIZATION STATISTICS AUSTRIA SURVEY DETAILS POPULATION CENSUS HOUSING CENSUS MICROCENSUS: CORE QUESTIONNAIRE THE EUROPEAN LABOUR FORCE SURVEY (SUPPLEMENT TO THE MICROCENSUS)... 12

6 4.5 HOUSING SURVEY (SUPPLEMENT TO THE MICROCENSUS) SURVEY ON WORKING CONDITIONS (SUPPLEMENT TO THE MICROCENSUS) SURVEY ON INCOME (SUPPLEMENT TO THE MICROCENSUS) TIME USE SURVEY HOUSEHOLD BUDGET SURVEY ACCESS TO MICRODATA FOR BONA-FIDE RESEARCH RESULT PUBLICATIONS BY STATISTICS AUSTRIA APPENDIX: SURVEY DESCRIPTIONS IN SUMMARIZED FORM

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8 1. Official statistics: organisational structure and legal issues On January 1, 2000, STATISTICS AUSTRIA ( was established as a federal institution under public law, named Bundesanstalt STATISTIK ÖSTERREICH. The new Federal Statistics Act of 2000 ( which gave the national statistical office a new legal personality, also implies a radical change in many other aspects of the legal basis and the duties of the office, and in the way statistics should be produced, even if 'Statistik Austria' our new trade mark in German symbolizing the change - acts as a successor to the 'Österreichisches Statistisches Zentralamt'. Statistics Austria has two managing directors, one Director-General-Finance and one Director-General-Statistics, to be accompanied and supervised by two new boards, the Economic Council and the Statistical Council, with the already existing Central Statistical Commission and their Special Advisory Subcommittees still playing their role. The statistical work is mostly done in four Directorates (Population Statistics, Business Statistics, Spatial Statistics, Macro-economic Statistics). 1.1 The rôle of STATISTICS AUSTRIA Statistics Austria plays a central role in official Austrian statistics and in particular in federal statistics, which in principle can only be done by StatisticsAustria, especially in the case of statistics for the European Union. Entrusting other federal agencies with the creation of statistics is possible; as laid down in the Federal Statistics Act 2000, however, this must be based on a law, except in the case of internal administrative statistics. However, some important data producers are outside federal statistics, such as the Austrian Central Bank, the social security institutions, and the chambers. The statistical authority of the Länder and municipalities is not touched by federal statistics. The following important statistical areas are cared for outside of Statistics Austria and published by other institutions: registered unemployed, financial and currency statistics as well as the data of the social security institutions in the areas of social expenditures, health, occupation and income, which can be partly replaced, however, by other data sources of Statistics Austria. The results of statistical data collection of other federal agencies are to be transmitted to Statistics Austria. The transmission of entries in the register and other administrative data to Statistics Austria can be made mandatory by law or regulation. With certain restrictions, this 1

9 obligation can also be imposed on the above mentioned Austrian Central Bank, social security administrations and chambers. Statistics Austria has an important function with respect to the coordination and the standardization of official statistics. As regards the design of laws and regulations concerning official federal statistics, the advice of Statistics Austria is to be obtained. However, the formal agreement of Statistics Austria is not required. Moreover, Statistics Austria is to be informed of developments regarding administrative data or the creation of registers respectively modifications in the structure of existing registers. Its needs as a future user have to be taken into consideration. A coordinating function of Statistics Austria also arises from its participation in the work of the European Commission, in particular in the case of EUROSTAT. But it is also a result of the participation in consulting committees of other institutions, to which, however, the participation of these institutions in consulting committees of Statistics Austria corresponds. Despite all co-ordination functions of Statistics Austria, no legal mechanism exists for the national federal statistics as a whole, which makes statistical programmes mandatory. Such a mechanism exists to some extent for the work of Statistics Austria, as the yearly work programme has both to pass the Statistical and Economic Council and is to be agreed upon by the Chancellery. But in fact, the responsible Minister carries the responsibility for laws and regulations in the field of statistics. 1.2 User representation in councils Two bodies, which could be called user councils, exist: the Statistical Council and the Central Statistical Commission. An important role is played by the Statistical Council, in which 15 members are represented, the most important Ministries, the Austrian social partners, the Austrian Central Bank, a representative of the Länder, one of the social security, and one of the academic statistics (Professor Peter Hackl), with the latter being appointed by the Federal Chancellor. The Statistical Council meets at least quarterly. It checks and advises, above all, Statistics Austria and has, similarly to Statistics Austria, a general coordinating and advisory functions in the area of federal statistics. The Central Statistical Commission comprises far more members, some of them also from the academic community. It meets annually and offers the possibility of a broader exchange of ideas. In the advisory groups and task forces of the Central Statistical Commission, most of the statistical work of Statistics Austria is elaborated in detail, under the inclusion of numerous scientific collaborators). 2

10 2. The evolution of the current system of socio-economic surveys in Austria 2.1 The legal framework of federal enumerations The increasing importance of legislation on statistics The Statistics Act 2000 is the basis for the official federal statistics in general and for the work of Statistics Austria in particular. This law does not apply, however, to institutions as the Austrian central bank, the social security institutions or the chambers. One basic principle of the new act is the further legislative anchoring of statistics. Now not only primary statistical surveys, but also the procurement procedures within the area of secondary statistics require either the prior issuing of subordinate legislation and directly effective international obligations, respectively, or a contract with an ordering customer who has to pay the full costs. Many of the statistical enumerations are executed on the basis of individual laws, e.g. the Population Census, or they are based on directly effective international obligations. Of particular relevance is the statistical legislation of the European Communities. The Federal Statistics Act permits, however, for a set of determined ranges of topics the execution of surveys due to regulations of the responsible ministers (regulation by the secretary ). Personal data and data linkage Only when it is based on a law, an international obligation or a national regulation, can the survey be stipulated as mandatory and can data be collected as personal data. If participation is voluntary, as in a special programme within the Microcensus (Mikrozensus), e.g., even personal data collections can be executed without special legal bases. However, as said before, Statistics Austria can execute such voluntary surveys only if they are based on contracts under private law with the Ministries or other public institutions (or are ordered by law, directly effective international obligations or regulations). Non-personal data can be linked by Statistics Austria without further limitations. On the basis of the Federal Statistics Act, Statistics Austria can run personal registers on legal persons as well as scientific institutions and use personal data from different sources. For natural persons, such a register must be based on a law or a directly effective international obligation. The linking of the personal data of a natural person for panels must also be based on a law or a directly effective international obligation. In the other cases, these personal data must be 3

11 encoded or the personal identifiers removed in some other way after the fulfilment of the purpose of the personal collection (mostly for control and supplement purposes). For persons and institutions outside Statistics Austria a link of non-encrypted data is only possible if it is covered by a law or after the expressed agreement of the respondents. 2.2 Trend towards an increasing use of administrative sources With the enormous increase in electronically available administrative data the use of these data for socio-economic analyses gains in importance. Anxious to lower the informants' burden, the new Federal Statistics Act gives priority to this type of data gathering; however, data security is always taken into consideration. One of the largest projects of Statistics Austria, in which administrative sources and field surveys were linked, was the income report In this report income data from the administrative pay slips were linked to social security records by industrial branch and with the Microcensus. The updating of the newly created Zentrales Melderegister (central population register) by using data from the survey based census 2001 should be the basis for the census 2011, based solely on administrative data. The Melderegister contains, in principle, the addresses and main data (sex, age, nationality) of all residents of Austria. It should then be linked to social security records (data on employment) and to an education register. This register of education completed is to be fed first with the data of the census of 2001 and afterwards to be continuously filled with data from administrative sources. Within the area of housing statistics analyses from administrative sources are to replace survey data of owners. 2.3 Federal collection programmes in the field of socio-economic statistics: Statistics Austria collects a variety of statistics through surveys of persons/households and business surveys as well as through the use of administrative sources Surveys The most valuable surveys as regards the size of the surveys are still the Censuses, last carried out in 2001: -Population Census -Housing Census 4

12 -Census of local units of employment In the field of continuous enumerations, the Austrian Microcensus is a major data source, especially as regards the broad range of topics dealt with in this survey. The Microcensus has a modular structure, consisting of a basic programme and various supplements, often rotating over time. The major modules of the Microcensus are Mikrozensus-Grundprogramm (basic module): core questionnaire with key questions of Population and Housing Censuses and of a quarterly labour force survey; Annual Housing Survey: extension of the core questionnaire once a year; Annual European Labour Force Survey (ELFS, March; since 1995 supplement to the Microcensus core questionnaire to get the complete set of questions laid down in an EU regulation; Supplementary modules to the European Labour Force Survey, such as 'Transition from School to Employment'; Other Microcensus supplements, mostly repeated. Major topics since the nineties related to Vacation trips Trips of five or more days ( yearly since 1998, every third year since 1969) - Day trips, short trips -Dwellings change of residence, looking for a new home - Annoyances due to noise, etc,. in the dwelling - Energy consumption of households Additional labour market issues: - Occupational careers - Change of job, looking for a new job - Working conditions 5

13 - Working time arrangements - Use of Computers for and on the job, teleworking - Continuing vocational training Income - (approx. every second year since 1981) Living conditions of specific population groups - Living Conditions of female population, respectively surveys dealing with aspects of housekeeping, care for children and compatibility with employment - Living conditions of the elderly Health - Accidents (mainly dealing with accidents at home or occurring at leisure or sports activities) - Smoking habits - Health Survey - Disabled persons Foreign languages Cultural and leisure-time activities Family networks Components of a Fertility Survey Time Use Survey Equipment of households with cars and consumer durables Environmental aspects of household activities Use of computers and of internet 6

14 Other important socio-economic surveys are: Household Budget Survey 1999/2000 European Community Household Panel (carried out by a private research institute) Structure of Earnings Survey 1996 (information on individuals collected in a business survey) Survey on Labour Costs 2000 (business survey) CVTS2 (Continuing vocational training ) (business survey) Administrative sources: - Statistics on income on the basis of pay-slips and income tax declarations - Migration statistics on the basis of registration sheets at lieu of residence - Statistics on registered unemployed (by federal employment office) - Statistics on employees on the basis of administrative social security data (published by social security authority ) -Statistics on income on the basis of administrative social security data (published by social security authority) -Vital, health and educational statistics on the basis of administrative files. 7

15 3. Surveys on persons/households: survey harmonization Within the system of surveys on households and persons, the Microcensus plays a central role. The regional, demographic and socio-economic variables regularly collected in the Microcensus core programme are also used in the supplementary modules. Hence, the core variables for individuals and households are identical in all these surveys. There are, however, also some important enumerations outside the Microcensus. Among these independent enumerations are the ECHP, the Household Budget Survey 1999/2000 and the Censuses. Moreover, collections which are based on administrative data files are also conceived as independent collections. Naturally, harmonization is less pronounced with respect to these independent collections, On the other hand, a general trend towards harmonisation is caused by the statistical European programme to which most of these surveys are subordinate. 4. Statistics Austria survey details In the following, summary descriptions are provided for the following surveys: Population Census of 2001 Housing Census of 2001 Microcensus Core questionnaire Labour Force Survey (Supplement to core questionnaire) Working conditions (Supplement to core questionnaire) Housing Survey (Supplement to core questionnaire) Income (Supplement to core questionnaire) Time Use Survey 1992 (based on diaries, in combination with Microcensus core questionnaire) 8

16 Household Budget Survey These summary descriptions are limited to scope, basic features and changes in content and comparability of each of these surveys. More detailed information has been transmitted to the EuReporting project for incorporation into an international meta-database of official surveys accessible via Internet ( Many of the Austrian surveys documented are part of the survey programme of EUROSTAT and are carried out according to the rules of EUROSTAT and/or other international organizations. This applies to the two Censuses, the Labour Force Survey and the Household Budget Survey as well as to the core questionnaire of the Microcensus, as data on employment and unemployment from this source meet the needs of EUROSTAT on quarterly data in this field. The Time Use Survey of 1992 was at that time mainly a national project. The annual housing survey within the Microcensus and the supplement to the Microcensus on income are also, above all, national surveys, even if some results are transmitted to EUROSTAT. 4.1 Population Census Scope: The Population Census covers the whole Austrian population (=residents ). Its results are the legal basis for the distribution of Parliament seats to the constituencies (=Länder) and for the allocation of public funds to the communes. It provides complete and detailed information on the demographic and social structure of the Austrian population and is a vital basis for small area statistics. Basic features The Population Census is a separate survey and has no panel aspect. It was always combined with the Housing Census. Since 1981, the Census of local units has been carried out together with the Population and Housing Census. In 2001, an updating of the Zentrales Melderegister (central register of residents) takes place together with the organization of the Census. The improved register of residents will be the basis for a new Census generation, carried out by linking different administrative data. Conduction history: The first modern Population Census of Austria was carried out in 1869 and has since then been repeated in approximately every decade. After World War II, the Population Census was 9

17 executed in 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, and last in Changes in concepts and major content From 1951 to 1991, major contents and concepts remained mostly the same, even if the focus of interest changed from issues related to the effects of World War II (refugees, etc.) to the concerns of a highly developed country. Some important changes occurred with the Census of 2001: the definition of households now follows the household-dwelling concept instead of the housekeeping concept used in the previous censuses. For the first time questions regarding employment (as well as unemployment) are based on the ILO Labour Force Concept, whereas before a mixture between Labour-Force-Concept and Main source of livelihood -Concept was used. According to the concept mentioned last, only people working at least 12 hours per week were counted as employed, whereas the ILO Labour Force Concept sets, in principle, the limit at one hour per week. Some breaks in time series are caused by changes in the classifications used for the economic activity (branch), occupation, and educational attainment. Over time, changes in international classifications were followed by more or less the same changes in the classifications used in the Census. Generally spoken, there is a clear trend towards a strict appliance of international classifications. In the Census of 2001, branch and occupation will be coded directly in NACE or in ISCO-88 respectively. 4.2 Housing Census Scope The Housing Census covers (with a few exceptions) all Austrian buildings (with or without dwellings) and Austrian dwellings (with or without people having their main residence in a specific dwelling). It gives complete and detailed information on the structure of buildings and dwellings and shows how people live in their dwellings. It is a vital basis for small area statistics and for environmental statistics. Basic features The Housing Census is a separate survey and has in itself no panel aspect. It has always been combined with the Population Census. Since 1981, the Census of local units has been carried out together with the Population and Housing Census. The Housing Census serves for the updating of the Buildings (Address) Register established within Statistics Austria. Conduction history The first Housing Census covering the whole country was conducted in 1951 and then every 10

18 ten years. Before, a restricted set of questions related to housing had already been included in the Population Census of 1869, but it covered only big cities like Vienna and Graz. Later on, the housing supplement to the Population Census was expanded as regards content and coverage, but it did not comprise the rural area. Changes in concepts and major content From 1951 to 1991, major contents and concepts remained mostly the same, even if the focus of interest changed from issues related to the effects of World War II (damages in the dwelling stock caused by war, population living in shelters, etc.) to the concerns of a highly developed country. 4.3 Microcensus: Core questionnaire Scope The Austrian Microcensus covers the whole Austrian population (=residents ) and all occupied dwellings. It is a quarterly sample survey, its sample size being about 33,000 dwellings or 60,000 individuals. Sampling frames are the most recent Census and the addresses of the dwellings built yearly. The core questionnaire comprises questions on basic data on housing, especially on housing costs, and population structure, employment and unemployment as partly dealt with in the Censuses and in the European Labour Force Survey. Data on rents from the quarterly Microcensus are used in the Consumer Price Index. Conduction history The Microcensus and therefore its core questionnaire,too, was first conducted in March Basic features The Microcensus is a multi-purpose survey with a modular structure. Its core questionnaire itself can be seen as a multi-purpose survey dealing with matters relating to housing and to population and social statistics. In addition, quarterly supplementary programmes are carried out dealing with topics from the whole field of population and social statistics and of adjoining fields like environmental statistics. The most important supplement to the core questionnaire is the European Labour Force Survey executed yearly in March (since 1995). The supplement contains the questions of the complete European programme not included in the quarterly core questionnaire. By using the system of key numbers (the same key numbers are used every time the 11

19 household is in the sample) neighbouring supplements can be linked. Changes in concepts and major content From its start in 1968 till 1993 major contents and concepts of the core questionnaire remained mostly the same. The sample design was changed in 1974 from a formerly twostage sample proportional to the dwelling stock of the Austrian Länder to nine samples for the Länder of approximately the same size (one-stage), giving reliable results for all Länder, even the smallest ones. A significant break occurred in 1994 in connection with the entry of Austria into the European Union. At that time the Microcensus was chosen as a tool to fulfil the European requirements regarding the yearly conduction of a Labour Force Survey. Therefore the questions on employment as well as unemployment had to be based on the ILO Labour Force Concept, whereas before only the Life Subsistence Concept was in use. According to the last mentioned concept, only people working at least 12 hours per week were counted as employed, whereas the ILO Labour Force Concept sets, in principle, the limit at one hour per week. Some breaks in time series are caused by changes in the classifications used for the economic activity (branch), occupation, and educational attainment. Over time, changes in international classifications were followed by more or less the same changes in classifications used in the Microcensus. Since 1994, the branch is coded directly in ÖNACE. Some biases in time series are caused by the drawing of a completely new sample which always takes place three after the Census, and some minor changes in definitions, order of questions, etc., undertaken at the same time. 4.4 The European Labour Force Survey (Supplement to the Microcensus) Scope The Austrian European Labour Force Survey covers the whole Austrian population (=residents ) in private households. It is executed yearly in March. Its sample size is about 33,000 dwellings or 60,000 individuals. Sampling frames are the most recent Census and the addresses of the dwellings built yearly. The questionnaire comprises the complete programme of the European Labour Force Survey according to the respective regulation of the European Union. Conduction history The European Labour Force Survey was first conducted in Austria in Basic features 12

20 The European Labour Force Survey is the most important programme supplementing the Austrian Microcensus. It contains the questions of the complete European programme not included in the quarterly core questionnaire. Changes in concepts and major content As the survey started in Austria as late as 1995, there are no major changes in content, concepts and definitions. 4.5 Housing Survey (Supplement to the Microcensus) Scope The Housing Survey covers all Austrian occupied dwellings an their inhabitants. It is now carried out approximately every year. The sample size is about 33,000 dwellings or 60,000 individuals. Main topics of the survey are the structure of the dwelling stock (year of construction, number of dwellings in the building, size of dwelling, amenities within the dwelling, tenure status, housing expenditures, heating facilities and heating material mostly used, facilities for parking cars within the building and related costs). Conduction history The Housing Survey within the Microcensus was first conducted in Basic features The Austrian Housing Survey is a programme supplementing the Austrian Microcensus. It contains the questions of the complete survey programme not included in the quarterly core questionnaire. In general, a further supplement programme relating to housing is added to the Housing Survey, such as surveys on energy consumption by households, annoyances due to noise, and similar disturbances in the dwelling, etc. Changes in concepts and major content There were only a few changes in content, concepts and definitions. Due to changes in the sample design, results for Länder were available from 1974 onwards. From 1981 onwards, Wohnküchen (i.e., kitchens which were widely used as living rooms) were not counted as rooms. 13

21 4.6 Survey on working conditions (Supplement to the Microcensus) Scope The Austrian Survey on working conditions covers the employed in private households. The sample size is about 30,000 employed. Topics dealt with are environmental burdens at the workplace, such as noise, weather conditions, dust, exposure to toxics, and, on the other hand, other possibly harming working conditions mostly due to the organization of work (work involving physical strain, assembly-line work, work under stress, time pressure, etc). Conduction history The Survey on Working conditions was first conducted in 1980 and then approximately every 5 years. Basic features: The Survey on working Conditions is a supplement to the Microcensus. Changes in concepts and major content There are no major changes in content, concepts and definitions, but there are some small alterations which make it a little difficult to compare the results over time. 4.7 Survey on Income (Supplement to the Microcensus) Scope The Income Supplement to the Microcensus covers all individuals in private households except for employers and own-account workers and family workers. The sample size is about 45,000 persons. In principle, information on the regular average monthly net income of each person in the household is collected. Conduction history The Income Supplement to the Microcensus was first conducted in 1981 and then approximately every second year. Basic features The Survey on Income is a supplement to the Microcensus. Changes in concepts and major content No major changes in content, concepts and definitions occurred, but changes in the editing 14

22 procedure and the way missing data are substituted make it somewhat difficult to compare the results over time. 4.8 Time Use Survey Scope The Time Use Survey of 1992 covered all individuals of 10 years or older in private households. The sample size was about 50,000 people or 25,000 people respectively (net sample size). The informants should make entries into a diary according to a given time table (mostly differentiating by quarters of hours) by writing down their main activity and a potential second activity. Additionally, the place where the activity took place and the presence of or help by other persons should be entered. Activities were coded in about 300 positions. Conduction history The TUS of 1992 was the first one conducted by Statistics Austria where diaries were used. In the predecessor of 1981 the data were collected on 40 precoded groups of activities. Basic features The Time Use Survey of 1992 was a supplement to the Microcensus. The basic demographic, socio-economic and household data were taken from the core questionnaire of the Microcensus. Changes in concepts and major content The way of data collection, the scope of the survey (no data on presence of other people or place of activity in 1981) differed considerably between the two surveys of 1981 and Nevertheless, the results of the two surveys give a good picture of changes in activity patterns in the eighties. 4.9 Household Budget Survey Scope The Household Budget Survey gives most valuable information on consumer spending and consumer habits of the Austrians. It serves as a basis for the basket of goods for the Consumer Price Index, for market research, and it becomes more and more an important source with respect ot the effects of social exclusion. It covers all Austrian private household. The survey 15

23 consists of a diary part (book-keeping period of two weeks) and an interview part. The net sample size is about 7,000 households. Conduction history The first Household Budget Survey carried out by Statistics Austria was conducted in 1954, followed by surveys in 1964, 1974, 1984, 1993, and 1999/2000. Basic features The Household Budget Survey is a single survey, even if the sample covered households that were included in the sample of the Microcensus of the years 1994 and Changes in concepts and major content The first survey covering all private households was the one carried out in 1974, whereas all farmers as well as other households in communes with a high proportion of farmers were not included in the prior surveys. In 1984 and 1993, the survey programme was aligned to the programme of EUROSTAT, and became officially part of the European programme in 1999/2000. In 1993 as well as in 1999/2000, rents for owner used dwellings and houses were imputed. The use of the newly established classification of consumption COICOP has a considerable negative impact on the comparability with prior surveys. 5. Access to microdata for bona-fide research The federal statistics Act 2000 gives, more than earlier laws, special attention to data security. The collection of personal data is possible only with agreement of the concerned person or under special conditions. The personal identifiers must be erased as soon as possible after the collection or can only be maintained under certain conditions. The release of data is permitted only if a conclusion on certain or assignable persons (natural or legal) can be excluded, or no interest worthy of protection exists, or the person agrees in writing. Concerning access to microdata on persons/households, Statistics Austria can grant access to scientists or scientific institutions, if data has been de-personalized. It has to be ensured, however, that a re-identification of de-personalized data is not possible. The use of personal statistics data is not permitted even for scientific purposes. Following these rules, Statistics Austria offers researchers the possibility to use encrypted 16

24 data files of the Austrian Microcensus on many topics in the field of population and social statistics as well as of other surveys, such as the Household Budget Survey. Interested researchers must submit a summary of the research plan as well as the purpose of research to Statistics Austria and specify the duration these microdata need to be locally available. Data is released under contract as a scientific use file (with a standard set of variables) for a specified period; files must be erased afterwards. Data files as of microcensus March 2000 are available in SPSS format as well as in ASCII format, well documented and with as well as without imputation. Earlier microcensus data files are available at Statistics Austria only in ASCII format, but the Austrian social science data archive WISDOM (Vienna Institute for Social Science Documentation and Methodology, ), which co-operates closely with Statistics Austria, offers these data as SPSS files produced by WISDOM. In any case, Statistics Austria remains the partner of contract. The so-far existing documentation of the Microcensus on the Internet is provided by WISDOM as well as for current microcensus data by Statistics Austria. Regarding personal data, no individual data of the Censuses were offered to the public in general or to scientists. Even if there is no real public use file, the so-called Aggregatfiles (i.e. tabular data) with Census data present a very broad data basis for scientific work. In the field of business surveys no microdata were disseminated to the public (except if laid down in a law). 6. Result publications by Statistics Austria Population Census: Österreichisches Statistisches Zentralamt (1995). Volkszählung 1991: Benützerhandbuch, Ausgabe [Population Census User Guide, 1994 edition]. Vienna. (1993). Wohnbevölkerung nach Gemeinden mit der Bevölkerungsentwicklung seit [Resident population by municipality including the development of population since 1869]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991 : Hauptergebnisse I - Österreich. [Main Results I - Austrian Republic]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Burgenland. [Main Results I - Federal State of Burgenland]. Vienna. 17

25 (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Kärnten. [Main Results I - Federal State of Kärnten]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Niederösterreich. [Main Results I - Federal State of Niederösterreich]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Oberösterreich. [Main Results I - Federal State of Oberösterreich]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Salzburg. [Main Results I - Federal State of Salzburg]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Steiermark. [Main Results I - Federal State of Steiermark]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Tirol. [Main Results I - Federal State of Tirol]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Vorarlberg. [Main Results I - Federal State of Vorarlberg]. Vienna.. Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Wien. [Main Results I - Federal State of Burgenland]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991 : Hauptergebnisse II - Österreich. [Main Results I - Austrian Republic]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Burgenland. [Main Results II - Federal State of Burgenland]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Kärnten. [Main Results II - Federal State of Kärnten]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Niederösterreich. [Main Results II - Federal State of Niederösterreich]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Oberösterreich. [Main Results II - Federal State of Oberösterreich]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Salzburg. [Main Results II - Federal State of Salzburg]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Steiermark. [Main Results II - Federal State of Steiermark]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Tirol. [Main Results II - Federal State of Tirol]. Vienna. (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Vorarlberg. [Main Results II - Federal State of Vorarlberg]. Vienna. 18

26 (1993). Volkszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse II - Wien. [Main Results II - Federal State of Burgenland]. Vienna. (1995). Volkszählung: Berufspendler. [Commuting]. Vienna (1995). Volksszählung 1991: Berufstätige nach beruflichen und wirtschaftlichen Merkmalen. [Gainfully employed by occupational and economic characteristics]. Vienna. (1996). Volkszählung 1991: Bildungsstand der Bevölkerung. [Educational level of the population]. Vienna. (1996). Volkszählung 1991: Schüler und Studenten. [Pupils and students]. Vienna. (1996). Volkszählung 1991: Binnenwanderung [Domestic migration ]. Vienna. (1996). Volkszählung 1991: Haushalte und Familien. [Households and families]. Vienna. (1997). Volkszählung 1991: Die demographische, soziale und wirtschaftliche Struktur der österreichischen Bevölkerung (Textband). [Demographic, social and economic characterisitcs of the Austrian population (Monograph)]. Housing Census: Österreichisches Statistisches Zentralamt. Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991 (1992). Hauptergebnisse Burgenland. [Main Results: Federal State of Burgenland]. Vienna. (1992). Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Kärnten. [Main Results I - Federal State of Kärnten]. Vienna. (1993). Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Niederösterreich. [Main Results I - Federal State of Niederösterreich]. Vienna. (1993). Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Oberösterreich. [Main Results I - Federal State of Oberösterreich]. Vienna. (1993). Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Salzburg. [Main Results I - Federal State of Salzburg]. Vienna. (1993). Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Steiermark. [Main Results I - Federal State of Steiermark]. Vienna. (1992). Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Tirol. [Main Results I - Federal State of Tirol]. Vienna. (1992). Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Vorarlberg. [Main Results I - Federal State of Vorarlberg]. Vienna.. Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: Hauptergebnisse I - Wien. [Main Results I - Federal State of Burgenland]. Vienna. 19

27 (1996). Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 1991: [Characteristics of establishments]. Vienna. Merkmale für Arbeitsstätten. Statistik Austria (2002). Schnellbericht Häuser- und Wohnungszählung 2001 Rohdaten nach Gemeinden. [Quick Report Census of housing an dwellings Raw data by municipality.]. Vienna. Microcensus: Statistik Austria (2001). Mikrozensus Jahresergebnisse 2000 (inkl. CD-ROM). [Microcensus. Annual Results 2000, incl. CD-ROM]. Vienna. Microcensus supplements: Österreichisches Statistisches Zentralamt (1995). Zeitverwendung 1992/1981; Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus März/September 1992 und September [Time Use 1992/81. Results of the microcensus March/September 1992 and September 1981]. Vienna. (1995). Kultur und Freizeit; Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus Dezember [Cultural activities and leisure time. Results of the microcensus of December 1992]. Vienna. (1997). Tagesablauf - Rund um die Uhr, Vergleich 1992/1981; Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus März/September 1992 und September [Daily life - 24 hours. Comparison of the situation in March/September 1992 with September 1981.]. Vienna. (1998). Freizeitaktivitäten, Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus September 1998 (inkl. CD- ROM). [Leisure time activities. Results of the microcensus of September (Incl. CD- ROM)]. Vienna. (1996). Gesundheitszustand der österreichischen Bevölkerung, Mikrozensus Dezember 1991 (Sonderausgabe). [Health situation of the Austrian population. Microcensus December (Special issue)]. Vienna. (1998). Personen mit körperlichen Beeinträchtigungen; Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus Juni [Handicapped people. Results of the microcensus of June 1995]. Vienna. Statistik Austria (2000). Lebenssituation älterer Menschen; Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus Juni 1998 (inkl. CD-ROM). [Life situation of the elderly. Results of the microcensus of June (Incl. CD-ROM)]. Vienna. (2001): Arbeitskräfteerhebung 2000/01 (inkl. CD-ROM). [Labour Force Survey 2000/01, incl. CD-ROM.]. Vienna. 20

28 (2001). Arbeitsplatzwechsel Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus September [Job changing. Results of the microcensus of September 2000]. Vienna. (2001). PC-Nutzung, Internet, Telearbeit Mikrozensus September [Use of PCs, Internet and telework. Microcensus September 2000]. Vienna. (2001). Wohnungen. Ergebnisse der Wohnungserhebungen in den Mikrozensen 2000 und [Dwellings. Results of the housing supplement to the microcensus 2000]. Vienna. (2002). Rauchgewohnheiten; Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus Dezember [Smoking habits. Results of the microcensus of December 1997]. Vienna. Household Budget Survey: Statistik Austria (2001). Verbrauchsausgaben Hauptergebnisse der Konsumerhebung 1999/2000 (inkl. CD-ROM). [Consumption expenditure: main results of the consumption survey 1999/2000. (Incl. CD-ROM). (2002). Verbrauchsausgaben Sozialstatistische Ergebnisse der Konsumerhebung 1999/2001 (inkl. CD-ROM). [Consumption expenditure. Social statistics results of the consumption survey 1999/2001. (Incl. CD-ROM)]. Vienna. Classifications: Österreichisches Statistisches Zentralamt (1995). Systematik der Wirtschaftstätigkeiten, ÖNACE [Industrial activities. Austrian versionl of NACE, 1995]. Vienna. (1999). Österreichisches Berufsverzeichnis; Version Häuser- und Wohnungszählung Bände (4.1, 4.2). [Austrian occupational classification. Version for the housing census Volumes.]. Vienna. General: Österreichisches Statistisches Zentralamt (1999). EU-Harmonisierung der Österreichischen Statistik. Österreichs Statistik in der Europäischen Integration. [EU-Harmonisation of Austrian statistics. Austrian statistics and European integration.]. Vienna. Statistik Austria (2000/2001). Statistische Nachrichten 2000, 55. Jahrgang (Neue Folge) inkl. CD-ROM. [Statistical News 2000, volume id 55 (New Series) incl. CD-ROM 21

29 Note: Titles of contributions in 'Statistische Nachrichten' concerning surveys conducted by Statistics Austria can be searched via Internet by type of survey through the project's homepage( ). 22

30 7. Appendix: Survey descriptions in summarized form For details and comparative queries visit 23

31 24

32 25

33 A-HC-2001 Topic Information Present Study Citation Country Austria Title Gebäude- und Wohnungszählung 2001 Parallel title 2001 Housing census Study Acronym GWZ 2001 Investigator Investigator's name in English Investigator's homepage Statistik Österreich Statistics Austria Study Content Summary Subject items Statistics domains Abstract (Study Purpose) 1. Building: Owner, citizenship, number of housing units, number of freehold dwellings (more than 2 dwellings in the building), main use (CC), central heating, primary fuel, subsequent structural measures. 2. Dwelling: Location in the building, facilities, useable floor space, number of rooms,primary type of heating, primary fuel (central heating system for apartment/individual stove), tenure status. Living conditions Housing 1. Basic information on structure of buildings and dwellings 2. Dwelling situation of different population groups; 3. Small area statistics Summary Data Description Coverage Reference period Data collection period Country Lowest geographic level Observed units Universe Institutional universe Geographic universe Conceptual exceptions Kind of Data Type of source Type of census 15-May-01 2-May-2001 to 31-May-2001 Austria total enumeration of buildings and dwellings Buildings Dwellings Total of buildings and dwellings Total of buildings and dwellings Excluded are buildings of less than 20 m², non residential farm buildings and private garages. Population and housing census Traditional, supported by registers page 1 of 6

34 A-HC-2001 Data Collection Methodology Survey structure Kind of survey Part of the Combined Census (housing census, census of local units of employment) Parent enumeration GROSSZAEHLUNG COMBINED CENSUS Participation mode Study frequency Collection period(s) Collection responsibility Mandatory Every 10 years 2-May-2001 to 31-May-2001 Sampling procedure Data collection procedure Survey instruments Survey modes Survey tools Sources description Total response rate Class of survey. Questionnaire Enumerators (questionnaires are usually filled in by the respondents) Interviews at the local census office None The Housing Census is linked to the Building register of NSI and to the Population Census; therefore most of the Population variables can be linked with Housing variables. 100% (the communes are entitled to fill in parts of the forms for people who are not at home or refuse to answer by using information from the population register) Core Variables: Availability and Concepts Place of Residence Concept de facto Country of Birth Country of birth registered? no Citizenship Citizenship registered? See Population Census Citizenship codes Treatment of dual citizenship See Population Census page 2 of 6

35 A-HC-2001 Dual citizenship registered? See Population Census Gender Gender registered? See Population Census Age Age registered? See Population Census Marital Status Legal Status Legal status registered? See Population Census De Facto Marital Status De Facto Status included? See Population Census Private Household Private HH specified? See Population Census Concepts and Definitions Reference Person Reference person specified? See Population Census Household Relationships Household rel. specified? See Population Census Family status recording Educational attainment Educ. attainment included? See Population Census Distinguished programmes page 3 of 6

36 A-HC-2001 Current/continued education Current education included? See Population Census Labour Status Labour Status included? See Population Census Status in Employment Employment Status included? See Population Census Hours worked Hours worked included? See Population Census Definition. Occupation Occopation included? See Population Census Industry Industry included? See Population Census Main social status Main social status asked for? Social Status Concept See Population Census Socio-economic Classification SEC included? See Population Census Income Income variables page 4 of 6

37 A-HC-2001 included? no Description of Income Variables Health Status Health status included? no Tenure Status of Households Tenure status specified? Housing amenities Number of rooms specified? Survey History Survey conduction First year 1951 Conduction history 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, Survey developments Major breaks No question 'construction period' has to be concluded by address identity with HC 1991 or with current building statistics. Additional modules Data Access Statistical disclosure control methods Type of access Access conditions to previous files Threshold for tables for small user-defined areas of 4 buildings No access to microdata for the public, only for statistical agencies of the Laendergovernments Data users only get tables and aggregate files. As above Other Study Description Materials Related Materials on Internet Home page of survey page 5 of 6

38 A-HC-2001 Codebook for survey Questionnaire for Individuals: Variable lists: Not on the Internet Statistical Office Not on the Internet Related Studies Parent enumeration GROSSZAEHLUNG COMBINED CENSUS Related Publications Part title(s) Beiträge zur österreichischen Statistik: Gebäude- und Wohnungszählung 2001, Hauptergebnisse Burgenland Hauptergebnisse Kärnten Hauptergebnisse Niederösterreich Hauptergebnisse Oberösterreich Hauptergebnisse Steiermark Hauptergebnisse Salzburg Hauptergebnisse Tirol Hauptergebnisse Vorarlberg Hauptergebnisse Wien Hauptergebnisse Österreich Parallel part title(s) Beiträge zur österreichischen Statistik: 2001 Housing Census, Main results Burgenland Main results Kärnten Main results Niederösterreich Main results Oberösterreich Main results Steiermark Main results Salzburg Main results Tirol Main results Vorarlberg Main results Wien Main results Österreich Document citation EuReporting Standard Documentation: Gebäude- und Wohnungszählung 2001 Housing Census 2001, by Reinhard Eichwalder (Statistics Austria); eds. F. Kraus (MZES) and G. Schmaus (CEPS). Mannheim/Luxembourg: 2001 Source references Statistics Austria: Internal documentation. page 6 of 6