According to the Office of the Auditor General, the main difference is the difference between the preliminary and definitive outcomes of the national accounts. Fiscal policy is based on the preliminary outcome and deficiencies in the statistics can lead to incorrect decision-making for the government and parliament. In the preliminary calculations from Statistics Sweden, GDP outcomes have also been systematically underestimated, according to the OAG.
Previously misleading statistics have been reported regarding the number of unemployed due to shortcomings in the material from a subcontractor. The Office of the Auditor General finds that Statistics Sweden needs to look more closely at the statistics obtained by other players.
- We think that Statistics Sweden should take a greater responsibility for evaluating these statistics. You should follow it up better and see if it can be done more accurately, Tomas Forsfält, Project Manager for the OAG's review.
The audit points to a cyclical pattern that separates the first estimates of the state's tax revenues, compared to the actual tax revenues that could be ascertained later. According to the pattern, more income has been received via tax assets in cyclical upturns than Statistics Sweden had in its earlier results.
Helena Kaplan, Head of Unit at Statistics Sweden, describes the Office of the Auditor General's review as well thought out. Despite the criticism, she notes that although there are shortcomings that should be addressed, the national accounts are good enough to be used as a basis for fiscal decisions. She sees the report as evidence of what needs to be improved.
- We work at Statistics Sweden with constant quality improvements, so this will be an input into that work, says Kaplan.