Purpose
To familiarize participants with benchmarking methods and software. Benchmarking deals with the problem of combining a series of high-frequency data (e.g., quarterly, or monthly data) with a series of less frequent data (e.g., annual data) for a certain variable into a consistent time series. Benchmarking techniques can also be used to solve interpolation, linking and bridging problems associated with time series.
Benefits to participants
Upon completion of the course, the participants will be able to understand some of the benchmarking techniques in use at Statistics Canada. They will have acquired the technical knowledge to solve benchmarking problems in SAS and in R, and to analyze the results. The course is technical and theoretical.
Target population
This course is intended for employees involved or interested in the production and analysis of benchmarked series or in the benchmarking process itself.
Course outline
The course examines
- Introduction and issues related to benchmarking.
- Benchmarking methods available in SAS and R: pro-rating; Denton; proportional Denton, a numerical version of the regression-based model and variants that directly compute the benchmarking adjustment factors.
- Timeliness issues with implicit and/or explicit forecasts and annual growth rates.
- Benchmarking stock variables and interpolation.
- Using benchmarking methods to solve bridging or linking problems.
Some knowledge of SAS or R will be useful, but not mandatory.
Other Related Courses
The course is specialized and requires basic statistical knowledge. The course STC0437 Theory and Application of Reconciliation is also available.
Delivery type: Virtual instructor-led
Duration: 3 half-days
Contact:
If you have questions or to register to the course, contact us at statcan.timeseriessupportsoutienenserieschronologiques.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.