The National Statistical Institute informs users of statistical information that Issue 4/2020 of ‘Statistics’ Magazine is published on the NSI’s website. The issue is in Bulgarian language with summaries in Bulgarian, English and Russian and includes sections as follows:
- Development of statistical theory and practice
- Statistical surveys and analysis
- The Bulgarian statistics in three centuries
- 140 years of state statistics in Bulgaria - author Dr. Bogdan Bogdanov, Deputy President of the National Statistical Institute – Sofia
A tribute to those who create and institutionalize Bulgarian statistics as a necessity for the state and society is being expressed. The great responsibility of statisticians in providing reliable information about socially significant phenomena and processes in the country is noted. The tasks that are on the agenda for the positive development of the National Statistical Institute are indicated. The important role of generations of statisticians, who through their work over the decades have contributed to the success of this state institution is noted.
The section Development of statistical theory and practice includes the articles:
- Aspects of socio-economic theory and practice for measurement and analysis of poverty and wealth in society - author Dr. Bogdan Bogdanov, Deputy President of the National Statistical Institute - Sofia
The article consistently addresses certain issues linking the phenomenon of ‘poverty’ with: the possibilities for analysis through a series of parameters (characteristics); the main methods (approaches) for measurement; other social phenomena and processes in the public space.
Along with that, aspects of the impact of poverty on the development of human society are presented. The data show that the richest countries are the ones that manage to limit the processes of impoverishment and maintain the sustainable development of their national economy, getting ahead of other countries. Thoughts of famous economists and political scientists on the nature of the phenomenon of ‘poverty’ are quoted and their vision of changes and policies in controlling negative processes and phenomena is presented.
In general, poverty is a phenomenon that generates social tensions nationally and internationally. The aim of all policies in the social field is to reduce poverty and bring it to the point where social tensions will not have destructive and eroding properties in relation to the development of the individual society.
The article ends with a thought that complements, and perhaps repeats, the events described as a metaphorical expression (a quote from a book by the famous writer Andrew Davidson in recent years), which provokes further reflection on the topic: ‘The whole history of mankind is in fact the attempts of one man to take away from another something that most often does not belong to either of them.’
- Varna without restrictions - building an IoT system in the town of Varna for improving the infrastructure and obtaining statistical data - authors Dr. Galya Stateva, National Statistical Institute - Sofia and Deyan Slavov, director of RSO - Severoiztok
Within the project ESSnet on Big data II the National Statistical Institute in partnership with Mimirium Ltd. explored the possibility of building of a sustainable project for smart statistics and turning the city of Varna into a smart city. The article discusses the main stages of planning, building and implementation of the pilot project ‘Varna without restrictions’. The used technological solutions and approaches are described in detail, as well as the existing IoT infrastructure in the city of Varna and the possible ways for production of smart statistics. The results of the conducted empirical research for tracking the movement of people with disabilities in major public places in the city of Varna are presented. Based on the collected and analyzed results of this study, conclusions and recommendations were made regarding the potential of data from smart devices for the production of trusted smart statistics.
Keywords: smart statistics, smart city, people with disabilities, Varna, National Statistical Institute
The section Statistical research and analysis includes the articles:
- Definition of the poverty line - methodological feature - author Prof. Dr. Vasil Tsanov, Institute for Economic Research at BAS - Sofia
The article examines the methodological differences in defining the poverty line. The positive and negative features of the three main approaches applied in world practice (absolute, relative and subjective) are being presented. The qualities and practical possibilities of the main methods for determining the poverty line are analysed. Evaluations show that methods based on statistical information have advantages over methods based on expert evaluation. The reliability and realism of the methods largely depend on the quality of the statistical information. The article thoroughly examines the qualities of the new methodology for determining the official poverty line in Bulgaria.
- Statistical assessment of the income inequality of the population - author Prof. Dr. Stoyan Tsvetkov, President of the National Statistical Institute in the period from April 27, 2007 to January 25, 2008
The main purpose of this study is to analyse the suitability of published information from official country statistics for assessing the level and dynamics of income inequality. At the same time, the author aims to acquaint the readers with basic methodological prerequisites for statistical assessment of income inequality and the conditions for comparability of the values of indicators that characterize it.
- Census of agricultural holdings in Bulgaria in 2020 - objectives and challenges to agricultural statistics - author Girgina Nikolova, National Statistical Institute - Sofia
The publication is dedicated to the forthcoming census of agricultural holdings in Bulgaria, which will be conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in the second half of 2020. It provides a brief historical overview of the agricultural censuses from the establishment of the statistical institution in Bulgaria to the present day. The organizational and methodological framework of the census is presented, focusing on the objectives of the census and the legal framework of the surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings in the EU - Regulation (EU) 1091/2018, and the national legislation - Agricultural Census Act in Bulgaria. Information is provided about the reference period, the variables observed, the stages and bodies of the census and the innovative methods used to collect and process information from holdings. The publication focuses on the challenges before statisticians conducting the most extensive study in the field of agricultural statistics, as well as on the role and responsibilities of the National Statistical Institute in its organization and implementation. At the end of the publication is presented a table with data on the main statistical indicators from the conducted two censuses of agricultural holdings in Bulgaria in accordance with the current European legislation.
The section The Bulgarian Statistics in three centuries includes the articles:
- Academician Evgeni Mateev - author Dr. Bogdan Bogdanov, Deputy President of the National Statistical Institute - Sofia
The biographical essay about academician Evgeni Mateev is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of his birth. He was born on April 1, 1920 in the town of Targovishte. The essay briefly presents moments from the life of this remarkable man. His extremely important role as Chairman of the Central Statistical Office in the period from 1953 to 1961 is noted. Emphasis is placed on his significant thoughts on planning and its connection with the development of democracy in Bulgaria.
Academician Evgeni Mateev belongs to the small community of explorers and scientists who can see and foresee, producing messages to the future generations.
- South Dobrudja - in the footsteps of the time until the treaty of Bucharest 1913 - author Zdravka Bobeva, National Statistical Institute - Sofia
In 1932, the ‘Statistics’ magazine, as a body of the General Directorate of Statistics, published an extensive socio-economic etude of South Dobrudja, which reflected all the indicators of the district for the period until 1913, when it was handed over to Romania. The wealth of information contained in this etude honours Bulgarian statisticians with its comprehensiveness, punctuality, objectivity and accessibility. In 2020, when the statistics in Bulgaria celebrates its 140th anniversary, it looks upon the achievements of its ancestors and provides today's generations with the opportunity to be acquainted with their professionalism. The ‘Statistics’ magazine published this retrospective of the etude for South Dobrudja on the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Craiova, which was commemorated on September 7, 2020.
In the first decades of the XXI Century, the European Union and Bulgaria, as part of it, presented the continent with a peaceful historical time. Time in which it is possible to build up and upgrade. A time for statistics to measure progress, instead of counting losses in material and human strength. That is why, with a full of hope gaze into the future, the 140-year-old Bulgarian statistics turns the pages of the past only to remind of its present and future professionalism.
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