Statistical performance indicators and index-a new tool to measure country statistical capacity

Hai-Anh H Dang; John Pullinger; Umar Serajuddin; Brian Stacy

doi:10.1038/s41597-023-01971-0

Statistical performance indicators and index-a new tool to measure country statistical capacity

Sci Data. 2023 Mar 20;10(1):146. doi: 10.1038/s41597-023-01971-0.

Authors

Hai-Anh H Dang^{1

2

3

4}, John Pullinger⁵, Umar Serajuddin⁶, Brian Stacy⁶

Affiliations

¹ World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC, 20433, USA. hdang@worldbank.org.
² International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 144 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam. hdang@worldbank.org.
³ Indiana University, Bloomington, 107 S. Indiana Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. hdang@worldbank.org.
⁴ IZA, Schaumburg-Lippe-Straße 5-9, Bonn, 53113, Germany. hdang@worldbank.org.
⁵ United Kingdom National Statistical Service, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF, UK.
⁶ World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC, 20433, USA.

Abstract

Strong statistical capacity is a prerequisite for producing reliable statistics that helps monitor a country's governance and economic performance. This is particularly relevant for a large number of poorer countries, which have weaker statistical capacity but have to rely more on these statistics for various objectives such as monitoring poverty reduction or reporting to international donors. We present the Statistical Performance Indicators and Index (SPI) as the World Bank's new official tool to measure country statistical capacity. The SPI is conceptually motivated, builds on a mathematical foundation, and significantly expands the number of indicators and the number of covered countries compared to its predecessor. The new index has a strong correlation with other common development indicators such as GDP per capita, governance, human capital, poverty, and inequality. It can also accommodate future improvements as the global data landscape evolves.