FROM INPUT–OUTPUT TABLES TO SUPPLY-AND-USE TABLES

In 1991, Statistics Netherlands introduced the supply-and-use tables as part of the national accounts. Since then, the supply-and-use tables have been the main statistics on the production structure of the Dutch economy. They form the basis from which input–output tables are derived. The time series of supply-and-use tables starts in 1987. However, there is a need for a time series since 1970 because benchmark revisions of the Dutch national accounts would become far easier if such time series were available. Therefore, a method has been developed to derive supply-and-use tables from existing input–output tables. This article presents the algorithm.     

FLASH GROWTH ESTIMATES USING CALENDAR INFORMATION

In 1991 Statistics Netherlands introduced their early flash estimates of the Quarterly National Accounts. In this article we examine a new, faster flash estimate, some three to four weeks earlier. The gain is made by using a simple regression technique and incomplete data. To compensate for the lack of data, information on the number of working days and shopping days was added to the regression. The inclusion of these calendar aspects significantly affect GDP growth: 0.30 percent point extra GDP growth for one extra working day, and 0.17 percent point for one extra shopping day.
The cost of an earlier estimate is a decrease of reliability. The probability of a forecast error of over 0.5 percent point will be about 26 percent, compared to 12 percent for the official flash estimate.     

FEATURES OF THE HIDDEN ECONOMY IN THE NETHERLANDS

This paper presents survey results on the size and structure of the hidden labour market in The Netherlands. According to the results total income from hidden work is at least 1 percent of national income. The hidden income is shared by more than one million participants (nearly 12 percent of the corresponding population). This result is lower than various other estimates of the magnitude of the hidden economy. Some definitional and methodological issues are discussed in order to explain the difference from the other estimates.
The most notable results of the survey refer to the structure of the hidden labour market. At one end of this market are people with a high wage rate, working relatively few hours. They have the characteristics which given them a favourable position in the formal labour market. At the other end are people with low hidden wages, who work more hours. They have difficulty in finding a formal job. The income from hidden labour is distributed in very much the same way as income from formal activities. There is no evidence that the hidden labour market compensates those who are worse off in the formal economy.