Implementation of the 2008 SNA Experience of Cameroon

1. Implementation of the 2008 SNA Experience of Cameroon By: TALOM KAMGA Alain National Institute of Statistics, Cameroon

2. Contents • Context • Methodological aspects of the 2008 SNA implemented • Impact of changes due to the 2008 SNA • Difficultiesencountered in the implementation of the 2008 SNA • Future actions

3. I. Context • Create a new year base (2005) to replace the old base of 1990 • Takeintoaccount new data sources (householdconsumption-budget survey-ECAM3, survey on employment and informalsector-EESI, General business census-RGE, general population and housingcensus –RGPH) • Improvesome aspects of the 1993 SNA • Final householdconsumption • Distinction between transport and trademargin • Gross Fixed Capital formation by sector (activity) • Etablishfinancialaccounts

4. II. Methodological aspects of the 2008 SNA implemented (1/7) Five major points of the 2008 SNA have been implemented in the 2005 new year base : Adaptation of activities classification to ISICS 4 regarding the 2008 SNA The calculation of the output of non life-insuranceusingajusted (expectation approach) claims le calcul de la production de l’assurance non-vie par le calcul des indemnités ajustées ; The calculation of FISIM fromdeposits and loans, and its allocation betweenusers (institutionalsectors and activitysectors) ; The inclusion of database, software and intangible product in GFCF  ; The inclusion of holding companies in financialactivities  ; [The calculation of non-market output of central banks (the Central Bank (BEAC ) is an extraterritoriality).]

5. II. Methodological aspects of the 2008 SNA implemented (2/7) 2.1 Adaptation of activities classification   • Merge, demerge, moving, clarification • For example • Branches " subsistence farming " and " Industrial agriculture and export" were merged to overcome the existence of products in both positions (banana) • The " Water and Sanitation " was created according to ISIC 4; This section includes the branches 'Water distributed’ and ‘sanitation and waste management‘. • A new group called " information and communication service " was created to reflect the current ICT development and in accordance with ISIC 4 . • MAJ_Nomenclatures_base_2005.pdf

6. II. Methodological aspects of the 2008 SNA implemented (3/7) 2.2 The calculation of the output of non life-insurance using  • The expectation approach was used to estimate ajusted claims to be considered in the calculation of the output of non life insurance • The mean excess function was used to dectect claims treshold in order to identify extrem values • The de Box & Jenkins smoothing was used • Calcul_production_assurances_nonVie.docx

7. II. Methodological aspects of the 2008 SNA implemented (4/7) 2.3 The calculation of FISIM from deposits and loans of institutional sectors and a reference rate  (1/2) • Approach of calculation • Estimation : • On one part, loans and dépositsavailabes in statisticspublished by the Central Bank, • And other part, interest rate applied to sectors. • Since, only the interest rate cap for loans and interest rate floor for depositwereavailableat the Central Bank, • Finallyafter discussions withbanker an interest rate per sectorwasestimated • This approachresulted to a production of FISIM higherthan the one obtain by 1993 SNA approach (the differencebetweenpropertyincomereceivable and interest payable).

8. II. Methodological aspects of the 2008 SNA implemented (5/7) 2.3 The calculation of FISIM from deposits and loans of institutional sectors and a reference rate   (2/2) • Twohypothesis for the evaluation of exports and imports of FISIM : • Investmentincome of financial institution are used for export whenGovernment and non financialcompanieinvestmenticome are used to calculate import of FISIM • Bilateral and multilateralaids are not considered • Mesure_SIFIM_selon_SCN_2008_base_2005.pdf In all, calculation of FISIM regarding the 2008 SNA has an negative impact on GDP (contribution of -0,44%)

9. II. Methodological aspects of the 2008 SNA implemented (6/7) 2.4 the inclusion of database (in the new category « software and database »), licences as GFCF Data relative to research an development, licences are available in statistics and fiscal report of companies. The estimation of these items, formerly classified as intermediary consumption accordind to the 1993 SNA, increased the Gross Fixed Capital Formation by 0,2% and the GDP by 0,04%.

10. II. Methodological aspects of the 2008 SNA implemented (7/7) 2.5 The inclusion of holding companies in financial activities The 2008 SNA and the ISICS 4 recommend that holdings companies should always be allocated to the financial corporations sector and treated as captive financials institutions. The 1993 SNA recommended to assign these companies , which were indeed, misidentified in the old series , to the institutional sector focusing the principal activity of the group. The General business census-RGE identified such companies and their integration in 2005 raised the GDP of3.4 billion FCFA

11. III. Impact of changes due to the 2008 SNA The Global impact of all the changes in the 2005 new year base is an increase of 8,2% of GDP But the impact due to the 2008 SNA is a decrease of -0,39% of GDP caused by FISIM Tableau : Impact of changes due to the 2008 SNA (*)Ecart relatif=Ecart absolu/PIB selon l’ancienne base

12. IV. Difficulties encountered in the implementation of the 2008 SNA • Absence of a clear strategy for the implementation of the 2008 SNA during the work on the base year 2005 • Difficult consideration of the production of the Central Bank in the context of sub- regional bank • Difficult access to the data on military expenditure • Difficulties in applyingsomemethodologies. Some specific aspects should be reviewed : • The estimation of capital service and its impact on the operations and the aggregates should be evaluated before its implementation in the national accounts • Other aspects of goods and services produced by households for their own use and not included in the production • In addition, the extension of the central framework must continue to include the accounts of other changes in assets in the accumulation accounts and balance sheets

13. V. Perspectives On the implementation level of SNA in Cameroon , according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the development of the base year 2005 positions Cameroon to a satisfactory level. However, as noted by the report of the Inter- Secretariat Working Group on National Accounts , these levels do not evaluate the conceptual and qualitative aspects . In this context, an assessment mission of the statistical system for insertion into the basis of the report data on compliance methodologies and codes ( Reports on the Observance of Standards and Code- ROSCs ) is desirable. Such mission has been conducted to evaluate the implementation of the 1993 SNA.

14. V. Perspectives Points to be implemented   Publish the serie of National Account 1993-2013 by end 2015 Continue the implementation of the 2008 SNA in the context of the New year base 2015 to be implemented in 2017 In fact, of the 44 points marking the improvements SNA 2008 from the 1993 SNA, only 07 items were reviewed during the implementation of the 2005 base and 05 were successfully implemented. This shows the size of the task that lies ahead. Difficulties relating to the integration of other points could be numerous and require, as appropriate, technical assistance . On this item on technical assistance , Cameroon is part of the implementation strategy developed at the African level. When the points to be implemented will be selected by these organizations , the NIS will request technical assistance (if needed) for the selected items but not yet implemented in the 2005 base .

15. Institut National de la Statistique PO Box : 134 Yaoundé - Cameroun Tel : (+237) 222 22 04 45 Fax : (+237) 222 23 24 37 Web Site : www.statistics-cameroon.org

16. Thankyou for your attention.