Republic of Kosovo Republic of Kosovo Statistical Office of Kosovo Household Budget Survey Brussels, Belgium, December 14-15, 2010 Author: Bashkim Bellaqa 1
The Household Budget Survey (HBS) Aggregate macroeconomic data suggest that Kosovo suffered less from the economic crisis than most countries in Europe. Starting from 2002, Statistical Office of Kosovo (SOK), respectfully the Department of Social Statistics (DSS), is developing the household budget survey (HBS). HBS is a statistical survey performed to obtain data on expenditures for consumption, self consumption, household incomes and basic socio economic environment in which families live. The survey also provides data on several important indicators on living conditions, as well as data on basic demographic, economic and social characteristics of families. 2
General assessment HBS Data collected through the HBS will also provide information on living standards, the extent and composition of consumption and the total household expenditure and their socio-economic characteristics and data for persons with disability. One of the specific objectives of the Household Budget Survey is obtaining necessary data for assessing the weight used to calculate the consumer price index. Also, this survey provides data that will be used as an input for measuring the consumption of private households in the country level within the timeframe specified. The data are collected during full year and all over Kosovo with a random sample of 2.400 households per year, following European Union standards and international best practices. A two stage sample designing (first stage A sample of enumeration Areas). Second stage A sample of households. The frame population consists of all EA s first stage. The EA s are stratified by region (7), urban and rural (2) Albanian and other (2). 3
General assessment HBS The reference period is monthly (diary keeping) for non durable and semi durable goods and 12 month duration for durable goods. If the substituted households are counted as non-responsive the response rate is more than 80%. The sample is located in rural and urban zones throughout the territory of Kosovo. Collection of data from households was done by SOK employees through its regional offices. In 2009 processing and data analysis was done through CSPro, ACCESS and SPSS programs. 4
Consumer trends in Kosovo According to results 2009 HBS, it is observed an increase of 6 percent of total consumption compared with 2008. Five main categories of highest consumption (food, housing, transportation, clothing, and alcohol and tobacco) represent 85 percent of total consumption. Seven other categories of consumption share 15 percent of the consumption. Consumption for households in Kosovo in 2009 was 6,847, this shows that there has been increased by 2 percent compared with 2008. Most of the household budget in 2009 was spent on food and housing consumption by 36 percent overall. For transport and clothes, household spent 5 percent. Based on the 2005/2006 HBS, it is estimated that 45% Kosovo s population lives below the poverty line, 15% of the population living below the extreme poverty line 5
Public sector salaries are the most important source of income in Kosovo and are the main source for a quarter of households. The next most important source is paid from private sector and businesses. Nearly one out of ten households living on money sent from abroad (remittances). Further action SOK intends to improve the quality of the data by applying European standards for analysis on consumption and poverty and for better data comparability. The plan for the survey SILCA development We think of developing the pilot survey in the six first months of 2011. Nevertheless, we need the professional support of experts. 6
Challenges Number of stuff members is not enough Old frame sample Unpaid of Households that are interviewed The rate of monitoring is in an inadequate level 7
Web Page All publications issued by the Statistical Office in hard copy are also available in electronic form on the office s website, as a rule in PDF format. www.ks-gov.net/esk 8
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