Estimation of a Swiss input-output table for 2001

Investigators
Carsten Nathani, Marcel Wickart, Renger van Nieuwkoop, Robert Oleschak

Time Frame
06/2004 - 06/2005

Abstract
This project aims at estimating an up-to-date system of input-output tables for Switzerland for the year 2001. Two new approaches are used, a country comparison of input structures for estimating intermediate inputs and the cross-entropy method for generating the balanced tables.

Contents:

1 Background and Introduction

2 Objectives and Methods

3 Publications

4 Presentations

1 Background and Introduction

Input-output tables are an important instrument in order to assess structural change induced by policy actions, to analyse the impact of new technologies or to analyse the structure of prices. Despite the application field for input-output analyses is manifold, there was no up-to-date input-output table available. Former extensive work was done during the eighties and the last updating was performed in 1995. Due to a change in the classification of industries, this old table can not be used together with current statistical data on sectoral level.

Since an input-output table is an important means for energy system analysis, we decided to estimate an input-output table which is consistent to key figures of the Swiss national account and which also follows the actual Swiss classification of industries, which is based on European classification (NACE).

2 Objectives and Methods

Our objective within the project is to construct a reliable input-output table, given limited resources, i.e. no financial support by any third parties. We face two major challenges: First, there does not exist any detailed information on inter-industry flows. Second, we have to apply an estimation method, which is able to account for the varying quality of different data sources.

Since there does not exist any detailed information on inter-industry flows, we include information on input-output structures from other European countries. In order to select a specific input-otuput vector for intermediate demand we compared the output mix of a Swiss industry with the output mix of the same industry in other countries. Data for final demand, imports and value added are given by Swiss statistics or can be compiled from Swiss statistical sources.

In order to account for the varying quality of the data sources, we apply a cross entropy method in order to estimate a balanced input-output table given an unbalanced initial table. We also control for the impact of alternative initial starting values on the estimation results.

3 Publications

There are no publications avaible yet.

4 Presentations

Overview [pdf, 368 kB]