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23rd Voorburg Group Meeting 23rd Voorburg Group Meeting Aguascalientes, Mexico Aguascalientes, Mexico

New Approaches for the Voorburg GroupNew Approaches for the Voorburg GroupNew Format and Focus for theNew Format and Focus for the

Sector Papers, and the IntroductionSector Papers, and the IntroductionOf the Revised Sector PapersOf the Revised Sector Papers

presented bypresented by

Mark E. WallaceMark E. WallaceChief, Service Sector Statistics DivisionChief, Service Sector Statistics Division

U.S. Census BureauU.S. Census Bureaumark.e.wallace@census.govmark.e.wallace@census.gov

September 22-26, 2008September 22-26, 2008

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New Approaches for VG 2006, VG 2007, and VG 2008:New Approaches for VG 2006, VG 2007, and VG 2008:How Well are They Working?How Well are They Working?

• Much work is now being done throughout the year, beginning with the task force delivering the Content Development Framework (CDF) in December 2005 and then the thesaurus by March 2006, the revised thesaurus and the general methodology paper and national accounts session for 2007 and 2008, the revisited sector papers and the glossary of terms for 2008 and the good work done on the mini-presentations and country progress reports (we should plan again to do a lot of work between VG 2008 and VG 2009)

• CDF: New approaches to:– New organization and format for meetings (e.g., selecting 3 countries for PPI and

turnover presentations, discussants’ remarks from a national income accounts perspective, facilitated group discussions of the mini-presentations and the discussants’ remarks, development of “key points” to be included in the sector paper, etc.)

– Mini-presentations– Sector papers (introduced in 2007, revised format in 2008)– Revisited sector papers (first done for 2008)– Presented the two special sessions: national accountants and general methodology

in 2007 (and finalized in 2008)

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New Approaches for VG 2006, 2007, and 2008: New Approaches for VG 2006, 2007, and 2008: How Well are They Working? How Well are They Working? (continued)(continued)

• Use of the common terminologies for PPI (thesaurus)• Adjunct to the Pricing Thesaurus (e.g., average charge-out rate in IT in

relation to offshore outsourcing, charge-out rates applied to Swedish computer consultancy services)

• Country progress reports - scorecard approach useful• Strategy for covering the highest priority Voorburg Groupings (2007)

– Beginning in 2008, we are targeting industries with highest and most universal payoff

– Focus future country progress reports on activity levels for PPI, turnover for industry/industry groups to be specifically covered at upcoming meeting

– Sector papers and revisited sector papers should focus more on recommendations, less on summaries of the mini-presentations

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Proposed Schedule for Industry Specific Papers (Mini-Presentations (MP), Sector Papers (SP), and Revisited Sector Papers (RSP)) for 2008 through 2011 (As Decided at the 2007 VG Meeting)

Industry/Industry Group MP SP RSP 2008 2009 2010 2011

1. Wired, Wireless, Satellite, and Telecommunications Services X X “ “ “ “ “ “ X X2. Wholesale Trade X X “ “ “ “ “ “ X X3. IT Services X X4. Accounting, Bookkeeping and Auditing Activities; Tax Consultancy X X5. Real Estate (Excluding Imputed Rents) X X6. Advertising and Market Research and Public Opinion Polling X X7. Architectural and Engineering Activities and Related Technical Consultancy X X

8. Rail Transportation X X9. Water Transportation X X10. Air Transportation X X11. Banking and Credit X X “ “ “ “ “ “ X X12. Insurance X X “ “ “ “ “ “ X X13. Rental and Leasing Services X X14. Retail Trade X X “ “ “ “ “ “ X X15. Employment Services X X16. Investigation and Security Services X X

17. Cleaning and Facilities Support X X “ “ “ “ “ “ X X

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New Approaches for VG 2006, 2007, and 2008: New Approaches for VG 2006, 2007, and 2008: We’re Really Moving Now!We’re Really Moving Now!

• Will we be successful in accomplishing the 2008 VG agenda?

• Consider as we go … should we make any adjustments to improve our approach?

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New Approaches for VG 2006, 2007, and 2008: New Approaches for VG 2006, 2007, and 2008:

OtherOther Things to Think About During the Things to Think About During the Course of This Week’s MeetingCourse of This Week’s Meeting

• Assessing the cost/benefit of conceptual choices related to pricing and turnover/output (in anticipation of Friday morning session on methodology for determining costs associated with different choices of pricing methods and turnover detail)

• What should be the ultimate body of work produced by the Voorburg Group?

• Sausage & Salsa (meeting the variety of needs with respect to the national accounts, regulations, business, policy, international comparability, etc.)

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New Approaches for VG 2006, 2007, and 2008: New Approaches for VG 2006, 2007, and 2008:

OtherOther Things to Think About During the Things to Think About During the Course of This Week’s Meeting Course of This Week’s Meeting (continued)(continued)

• Sausage & Salsa (meeting the variety of needs with respect to the national accounts, regulations, business, policy, international comparability, etc.)