The National Statistical Institute informs users of statistical information, that № 2/2015 of the ‘Statistics’ magazine is published on the NSI’s website. The issue is in Bulgarian language with summaries in Bulgarian, English and Russian and includes the following sections:
On the occasion of the Anniversary of the Bulgarian statistical institution, the Deputy President of the National Statistical Institute and editor of ‘Statistics’ magazine, Ph.D. Bogdan Bogdanov addressed fellow statisticians and the magazine's readers as the author of ‘135 years state statistics in Bulgaria’. His thoughts are about the past, present and more about the future of the statistical institution in Bulgaria, for its leading role in the modern society. Statistics needs to be more transparent and understandable. It must be freed from the notion of elitism. What is understandable and clear, practical and useful becomes a necessity. Seen in this aspect, the work of statisticians can be measured in terms of dignity, so the prestige of the institution in the public space can grow.
The section ‘Development of statistical theory and practice’ contains the articles:
• ‘European statistics in the information society’ - author Prof. Dimitar Radilov, University of Economics - Varna
The article discusses the challenges before the European Statistics in today's information society, which are important for building up its information capacity by 2025 and beyond. The challenges associated with changes in the modern world, with the development of the European Statistical activity and changes in the content of the statistical profession in the triangle knowledge - education - business. They require changes in statistical education and ethics in the statistical profession. In its unity the challenges for changes in European Statistics affect the vision of the organization and functioning of the European statistical system by 2025 and beyond.
• ‘Flexible security in the European political and academic discourse’ - authors - Lyuben Tomev, Institute for Social and Trade Union Research CITUB (ISTR) and Nadezhda Daskalova, Institute for Social and Trade Union Research CITUB (ISTR)
The article examines the concept of flexible security, which was launched by the European institutions as an alternative to the neoliberal ideas for flexibility of labour markets and response to significant changes in European labour markets as a result of increasing global competition. Presented are the political debate and the main ideas in EU documents. Summarized are the academic research guidelines, with an emphasis on research in the crisis.
The situation regarding flexibility and security in Bulgaria is presented by analysis of data from empirical survey on ‘Flexibility and security of employment’ module included in the ‘Index of labour climate 2012’ survey. Presented are data on the characteristics and frequency of internal flexible employment, as well as the evaluation of the respondents for the security and flexibility of their employment in socio-demographic and structural economic signs.
The section Statistical surveys and analysis includes the articles:
• ‘Challenges for the NSI in connection to information provision of measurements of quality of life’ - author Prof. Dr. Sc., Svetlana Saykova, Head of the Center for Empirical Social Research at the Institute for the Study of Societies and Knowledge, BAS
Discussed are key issues and challenges affecting the statistical information support research and evaluation of quality of life. It is stated that quality of life (welfare of the people) is multidimensional phenomenon. For its evaluation are required adequate sets of indicators and relevant statistical information, which is now in many ways are lacking. The construction of such indicators and providing information about their assessment is a very serious challenge for researchers from the relevant subject fields, statisticians and computer experts. Discussed are ideas and recommendations concerning the study of social progress and upcoming tasks of statistics in this area.
• ‘Between tradition, modernity and practice: some views on the teaching of statistics to economists’ - author PhD, Professor Dimitar Arkadiev, University ‘St. Cyril and Methodius’ - Veliko Tarnovo
Some ideas and views of the author on teaching statistics to economists are being discussed. This is done in the light of the development of statistics as a science and practice and the requirements of modern information services for research, practical actions in economic and social activity, management at different levels of statistical data.
The economic staff is called upon to play an important role in that direction. It is necessary to have available for utilization statement of methods and tools of statistics and the results of their application. Some aspects of this are: 1) upgrading of educational content; 2) analyzing processes and phenomena by application of statistical methods on actual data; 3) interpretation of the received results of statistical analysis - formal and meaningful. The application of computer technology has an important role in this process. After completing the course in statistics the deepening the knowledge and skills may continue with a course in econometrics.
• ‘Vision for the organization and functioning of the NSI in 2025’ - author Deyan Slavov , director of RSO - Varna
A review of current and expected future changes in European statistics is made. The impact of changes in the modern world information society for the development of European statistics and European statistical activity is analysed. The existing methods for the production of statistical information, as well as the future development of the European Statistical System, complying with the business model of statistical production are described in details.
Described is the main requirement for the future development of the statistical system - single data collection and their subsequent use for various statistical purposes, thereby achieving more efficient production of information and reduction of the burden on respondents.
Primary attention is paid to the statistical data warehouse, which is explained in details in terms of functions and processes. Thanks to it, in future, statistical systems could achieve greater efficiency in reducing the cost of production of statistical information.
• ‘Prerequisites for building an integrated statistical information system ‘Education’ of the NSI and MES’ - author Stoyan Baev, Consultant in Statistics on education and lifelong learning
The data in the administrative registers of the Ministry Education and Science may in general be used for statistical purposes, but this requires the establishment or existence of a number of preconditions.
The prerequisites for the construction of an Integrated Statistical Information System ‘Education’ of the NSI and MES are presented in the article in three main groups - legal, organizational and methodological assumptions. The most important legal prerequisites - Regulation (EU) № 759/2015 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on European Statistics and the Law on Statistics are present. Organizational and methodological prerequisites have to be created with the participation of experts from both government institutions.
The benefits of the integration of the information systems and registers of the two institutions will be numerous and significant. The most important of these are related to reducing the administrative burden on respondents, ensuring methodological unity between the NSI and MES in the production and dissemination of statistics on education and reduction of budget spending.
• ‘Role of statistics in state governance’ - author Victor Petrov, Assistant Professor in the ‘Statistics and Econometrics’ Department, University of National and World Economy - Sofia
A brief flashback of the role of the NSI as an institution of paramount importance for the state governance of the economy as well as the work of the Bulgarian statisticians in periods with fundamentally different socio-economic aspect. Emphasis is placed on changes in the years after 2007, when Bulgaria has already become a member of the European Union, indicating the importance of statistical data for the implementation of the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy. The new role and significance of Bulgarian statistics as an important source of information about the need and merits of the decision-making with an expected positive effect is defined. It outlines the role of the NSI to support the work of state institutions in the implementation of structural reforms in key areas such as health, pension system, education in its different forms and degrees, judicial system and effective administration of justice, labour law and social assistance, public administration and effective enforcement of tax legislation.
The potential use of available databases (i.e. Big Data) for statistical analysis and making informed management decisions in conditions of uncertainty is being stressed upon. The possibility of applying a little known in Bulgaria, but promising approach to statistical analysis - Bayesian analysis is revealed. The combination of Bayesian analysis and available Big Data can be a highly effective tool and working model in the formulation and justification of successful managerial decisions in conditions of objective uncertainty.
‘P. Volov’ № 2 Str., Sofia 1038.
