China's Experience on the Classification Standard between New and Old Industries and Data Conversion
2005-01-14 15:43:26
 

China’s Experience on the Classification Standard between New and Old Industries and Data Conversion

Jia Nan

The Industrial Classification for National Economic Activities (CSIC, Rev.2002) was revised under the leadership of the National Bureau of Statistics of PRC and organized by the relative departments of State Council. It has been promulgated and implemented on May, 10 2002.

In order to apply the CSIC in our business register and the conversion of historical data, NBS improved the method of correspondence between the new and old classification. For the first time, we have set up the corresponding relations between the codes of the new and old industrial classification. Some bureaus of statistics at provincial level take advantage of the software developed on the basis of this corresponding relation to convert the data of Basic Unit Database.

1. Brief introduction to the existed industrial classification in China

CSIC Rev. 2002 was revised on the basis of the classification standard in 1994 (CSIC Rev. 1994). Considering the development of social economy in China in past ten years, for our classification to be compatible to the international classification, and the corresponding product classification standard to be established in the future, CSIC Rev. 2002 has been greatly modified and adjusted, comparing with previous version in 1994.

In general, the total number of the categories in each four levels of the new classification has been increased. In detail, section has been added by 4; division has been added by 3; group has been added by 28; class has been added by 67. See following table 1:

Table 1

Corresponding table for new and old structure of industry classification of national economy

GB/T 4754-2002

GB/T 4754-1994

Section

Division

Group

Class

Section

Division

Group

Class

 A Agriculture, forestry, livestock, fishery

5

18

38

 A Agriculture, forestry, livestock, fishery

5

14

16

 B Mining

6

15

33

 B Mining and Quarrying

7

18

53

 C Manufacturing

30

169

482

 C Manufacturing

30

172

544

 D Production and distribution of electricity, gas and water

3

7

10

 D Production and supply of electricity, gas and water

3

7

10

 E Construction

4

7

11

 E Construction

3

8

8

 F Transport, storage and post

9

24

37

 F Geological Prospecting and Water Conservancy

2

8

15

 G Information transmission, computer services and software

3

10

14

 G Transport Storage, Post and  Telecommunication

9

21

22

 H Wholesale and retail trade

2

18

93

 H Wholesale and retail trade, Catering Services

6

32

67

 I Accommodation and catering

2

7

7

 I Finance and insurance

2

8

11

 J Financial intermediation

4

16

16

 J Real estate

3

3

3

 K Real estate

1

4

4

 K Social service

9

29

36

 L Leasing and business services

2

11

27

 L Health, sports and social welfare

3

11

17

 M Scientific research, technical service and geologic prospecting

4

19

23

 M Education, culture, arts, radio, film and TV

3

18

25

 N Management of water conservancy, environment and public facilities

3

8

18

 N Scientific research and Polytechnic service

2

12

12

 O Services to households and other services

2

12

16

 O Government agencies, Party agencies and Social organizations

4

5

5

 P Education

1

5

13

 P Others

1

2

2

 Q Health, social security and social welfare

3

11

17

 

 

 

 

 R Culture, sports and entertainment

5

22

29

 

 

 

 

 S Public administration and social organization

5

12

24

 

 

 

 

 T International organizations

1

1

1

 

 

 

 

(Total)            20

95

396

913

(Total)           16

92

368

846


In the view of specific classification categories, some categories have been added while others reduced. On the one hand, the new classification of version 2002 especially focused on the classification of service, making the section of service industry (from section E to section T) added by 4, the division added by 3, the group added by 31, the class added by 124. On the other hand, considering the difference between the industrial classification and product classification, we make the categories greatly reduced in the section Mining and Manufacture, as a result of 20 categories reduced in Mining and 62 categories in Manufacture.

The classes in the final revision, which remains no changes, reduced or cancelled, further subdivided from the original class, respectively takes up 1/3 each. Therefore, the classification of version 2002 has been greatly changed.

2. The improvement of corresponding method between the new classification and the old

2.1 Established correspondence between the new classification and the old

In view of the requirements of statistics, revision of a classification must consider the comparability to the old classification. In CSIC revision 2002, we have changed the old method of simply listing a changing process for the new categories in CSIC. Not only keep down simply listing a changing process for the each category with written explanation, but also we have paid more attention to the corresponding of the code, listing detailed corresponding code and title of the new and old classes, while considering the requirements of computer operation. Therefore, the corresponding table included in the new CSIC will be clearer, which created a foundation for the establishment of statistical classification database

See the following table 2:

Cross-check table for new and old structure of industry classification

GB/T  4754 ― 2002

GB/T  4754 ― 1994

Remarks

A

Agriculture, forestry, livestock, fishery

 

 

 

01

Agriculture

 

 

 

011

  Growing of cereal and other crops

 

 

 

0111

    Growing of cereal grains

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0112

    Growing of potatoes

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0113

    Growing of oleaginous crops

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0114

    Growing of bean crops

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0115

    Growing of cotton crops

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0116

    Growing of hemp

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0117

    Growing of sugar crops

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0118

    Growing of tobacco crops

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0119

    Growing of other crops

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

012

  Growing of vegetables and horticultural crops

 

 

 

0121

    Growing of vegetables

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

0122

    Growing of flowers

0110

Planting

Newly addedsubdivided from the original 0110

2.2 The type of correspondence between the new classification and the old

By summing up, there are three types on correspondence between the new classification and the old:
     The first is no changes, namely one to one
     The second is reduced or cancelled, namely multiple to one
     The third is further subdivided from the original class, namely one to multiple

Such as “133 Processing of vegetable oils “of CSIC Rev.2002 in Table 3 has not changed except code , so it is correspondence of one to one between the new classification and the old , but “1340 Manufacture of sugar “in Table 3 was combined from 3 classes of CSIC Rev.1994, so it is multiple to one.

Table 3

GB/T  4754 2002

GB/T  4754 1994

Remarks

133

  Processing of vegetable oils

132

 Processing of vegetable oils

    

1331

    Manufacture of edible vegetable oil

1321

Manufacture of edible vegetable oil

 

1332

    Manufacture of non-edible vegetable oil

1322

Manufacture of non-edible vegetable oil

 

1340

  Manufacture of sugar

1331
1332
1334

Production of cane sugar
Production of beet sugar
Processed sugar

Combined from 3 original classes of 133113321334


However, the 9 classes of “011 Growing of cereal and other crops” in Table 2 is Newly added, and subdivided from the original “0110 Planting”, namely one to multiple.

2.3  Software system

Meanwhile, in order to making the computer well used in the classification, and making it convenient for the adjustment of historical data and inquire by users, NBS has also developed two kind of software.

One is the conversion software, developed by NBS, which can be used for the convention between the new classification and the old for the adjustment of historical data. Now the program has been send to the provincial statistical bureau.

Another is the CSIC Inquiry System, it includes the structure of CSIC Rev.2002, the correspondence table between the new classification and the old, and the correspondence table between CSIC Rev.2002 and ISIC Rev.3. It can make users understand the difference between the new classification and the old, and find out the class immediately which a establishments should be.

3. The method and experience for conversion of data for China’s Basic Unit Database

Considering the decentralized statistics systems in China, the statistical bureaus in each province have their own Basic Units Database. Therefore, after CSIC Rev.2002 taking effect, statistical bureaus at provincial level have adopted different methods to adjust their own Basic Units Database. The NBS has not made unified prescription on the method of adjusting the Basic Units Database.

3.1 The conversion method

Because of the different condition for statistics foundation in various provinces, the conversion method in each province for Basic Unit Database is also different. There are primarily two kinds of methods:

The first kind is to make use of the corresponding relationship between new and old industries and conversion software to adjust data.

The improvement of the new-old corresponding method makes it possible to use computer to adjust history data and hence the work efficiency has been improved.

As being introduced above, 913 industries of the 2002 version, which have not undergone changes, or deleted, or subdivided to new industry classes, respectively occupy about 1/3 of the total number. If we adjust Basic Unit data from old industry to new industry, then 376 industry classes can (one-to-one corresponding) be directly converted, and another 388 old industry classes can be directly merged into the nearly 200 new industry classes. It means that about 2/3 of the new industry classes can be directly converted when using computerized software to adjust data. The remaining industries can be further determined respectively with the primary activities filled into questionnaire by the units.

Up to now, two censuses of establishments have been implemented In China. The census data show that the number of the corporate units in each province region is around several hundred thousand. However, the maximum number of corporate units will be more than ten thousand in county level, among which 2/3 of the industries can be automatically converted, while the remaining work for unit classifying determination can be greatly reduced and the work efficiency improve. As far as we know, most provinces have adopted this kind of data conversion method to adjust the unit database.

Another method is to add an indicator of new industry code in the 2002 basic unit survey questionnaire, namely the basic level of statistical office shall fill out the code of new and old industries respectively in accordance with the primary activities filled out by enterprises or units, this means the classifying of the all enterprises and units should be re-determined.

3.2 The compare of two conversion methods

In comparison, the two methods each have their advantages and disadvantages.

The first method that uses correspondence conversion software can apparently reduce the workload of statistics office at basic level and increase work efficiency. But the condition is that the old industrial data must be right.

The second method of re-determination of the industries involves huge workload, yet data quality collected by the second method will be relatively higher. However, the basic statisticians are required know both the new and old classification for the method of re-determination

In conclusion, one point is important that no matter which one is used, the work for the data conversion from old classification basis to new classification basis must be done by the statistics office at basic levels for China. If the foundation is weak in the statistical agencies of county level, the conversion of the data is carried out in the provincial level. It not only conforms to the China’s reality of decentralized statistical system (province has their own database) but also can effectively reduce the workload of data conversion on national level. Of course, NBS of China should improve continually the correspondence method of classification and the function of the convention software to enforce the data process ability of computer, eventually reduce the operation by hand and the workload of the statistics office at basic levels.

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