Trade in Services StatisticsDevelopments in New Zealand

Shirley Nesbit

Statistics New Zealand

for OECD-EUROSTAT MEETING OF EXPERTS IN TRADE-IN-SERVICES STATISTICS (TIS)

April 2004

OverviewBackground

Increasing importance of trade in services

“Other Services” project: Current methodology Project overview Feasibility study Population study

Other trade in services developments Travel debits BoP quality plan

Questions/feedback

Trade in services - increasing importance

New Zealand's Exports of ServicesYear ended December

$NZ(Million)

1997 2003 Percentagechange

Other Services 1,149 1,954 70%

Total Services* 6,412 10,770 68%

Goods 21,572 28,880 34%

Current methodology - “other services”Periodic benchmark census of “other services” transactors -

1989, 1992, 1999, 2005Quarterly Survey of International Trade in Services and

Royalties + non-sampled estimatePopulation maintenance

Business frame update survey - selected enterprises - in past 12 months, revenue/expenditure over $20,000 from overseas located enterprise(s) or individual(s), for services?

Enterprises identified through media reports, etc

=> Annual update survey('births' survey)

Objectives of “Other Services” projectUpdate census benchmark, undercoverage estimate.Research “issues”.Better meet needs of policy agencies.Improve compliance with eg trade in services manual.Update quarterly sample.Investigate alternative means of collecting data that may

reduce respondent burden, e.g. the use of administrative tax data.

Other Services Project Overview

Results will determine Other Services

Feasibility Study (P1) data collection

framework

Investigation of issues (P2) Resolution of these

will feed into Other Services

Provide survey pop Census Survey (P4)

Population Study (P3)

Output of

census survey (P5)

Results may

support using admin

data for estimation Determine quarterly

collection/estimation

strategy (P6)

Feasibility studyMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) - need for W120

by modes of supply by country as per Trade in Services manual.

Concept testing (March-April 2004) interview to probe respondents' record keeping systems - what data is

available, how easy to supply in the forms specified in the Manual. relatively easy to identify revenue (service exports) by country and type

of service some use zero rated GST returns to identify exports less easy to categorise expenditure (service imports) larger existing respondents compile data specifically for Statistics NZ. W120 feasibility depended on what data stored in systems, load varies

widely much more difficult to identify value by modes of supply

Cognitive testing (May-June 2004) test updated collection instrument

Population studyUpdate population: use of (administrative) GST “zero rated

sales” and other sources to identify possible ex/importers of services.

Examine relationship between zero rated GST returns and exports of services in the services survey.

Potential use of zero rated GST to: update the quarterly survey population replace/extend surveyed data in quarterly survey

Zero rated GST suppliesZero-rated supplies are certain taxable supplies that are taxed

at the rate of 0% rather than at the standard rate.These include:

the sale of a "going concern” exported goods duty-free goods goods not in New Zealand at the time of supply temporary imports transport of passengers and goods to and from New Zealand certain exported services the first sale by a refiner of pure gold, silver, or platinum to a dealer in

fine metal for investment purposes

Other developments - travel debitsUpdating benchmark estimate to reflect current expenditure

patterns NZ travellers Survey of Returned Travellers September 2002 -June 2004 quarter Expenditure by purpose (business, personal) by method of payment

(credit card, other card, travellers cheque, cash, other) by country Results for first year to be published soon

Quarterly estimation methodology using current expenditure information, including:

Survey of Debit Transactions = Overseas purchases and cash withdrawals by New Zealand residents, using New Zealand bank accounts

Survey of outward bound tour operators expenditure on prepaid overseas travel services by New Zealand residents from the survey of outward bound tour operators.

Updated travel debits series with March 2005 quarter BoP.

Other developments - BoP quality planDiscussion document to be released in May 2004 on

www.stats.govt.nzPrioritising BoP quality issues, unmet needs. Outcome = agreed BoP development plan.

Questions/feedbackComments?Questions?Advice?