Analysis of the results of the UNECE Questionnaire on valuing unpaid household service work

Dominic Webber, Office for National Statistics, UK

Contents

• The questionnaire

• Analysis of results

• Recommendations

• Discussion

The questionnaire*

• 33 countries responded to survey.

• 14 countries estimate the value of unpaid work. (3 measure physical units).

• Answered questions regarding:o Timeliness of estimateso Methodologieso Future intentions

*Results reflect comments from Mexico

Key findings

1. Disparity in the frequency of results.

2. Most countries opt for mix of monetary and physical values.

3. 87% of countries used a Time Use Survey.

4. Only 7 (37%) countries have future plans to value unpaid work.

Timeliness of estimates

Annua

l

Biannu

al

Every

4 yea

rs

4 yea

rs

5 yea

rs

6 yea

rs

7 yea

rs

8 yea

rs

9 yea

rs

10 ye

ars

In ac

corda

nce w

ith TUS/ot

her s

urvey

Resou

rce de

pend

ent

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Methodology - Activities within scope

• Family care (adult and child).• Food management.• Housekeeping (cleaning, garden and vehicle

maintenance, and pet care).• Travel and transport.• Voluntary work.

Methodology - Type of estimation

Physical units

Monetary values

Production and income generation accounts

Full sequence of accounts

Other

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Methodology - Analysis of approaches

Input approach, opportunity cost approachInput approach, RCA using wages of specialist workers in market en-terprisesInput approach, RCA using wages if specialist workers at homeInput approach, RCA using wages of generalist workersOutput approach, average market pricesOutput approach, average market price adjusted for qualityOther

Recommendations - Production boundary

Adult careChild careNutritionHousekeeping (incl. garden)TransportVoluntary work

• Do the TF agree with these? Is there anything missing?

Recommendations – Methodological approaches

• No single approach is seen as preferable. • Recommend:

Guidance should be clear on strengths and weaknesses all approaches.

Availability of data should be main guide for decision on which approach to take.

Encourage, where possible, estimation using both input and output approaches to allow greater sensitivity analysis.

Recommendations - Extent of account

• Most countries only estimate monetary values.

• Recommendation:Countries should aim at a minimum to provide

monetary estimates.Guidance should explain the steps to creating a

full sequence of accounts.

Other issues for discussion

• Multi-tasking? • What wage rate to use in the RCA?• What coverage don’t we have? E.g. internet

services.• How can countries make sure they’re

measuring relevant activities? • How can we make sure that we don’t miss

relevant activities?

Thank you

Questions and discussion