SUBJECT GUIDES : STATISTICS and NUMERIC DATA

Business & Economics Information Services (BEIS)

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This page provides information about databases and internet sites for building and downloading tables of data; locating  international data archives; locating data on specific topics, and information about the University of Auckland Library's collections.

• Statistics New Zealand Resources: information about and links to the resources provided by Stats NZ for universities and academic research, including the statistical data package for New Zealand universities in terms of the agreement between Stats NZ and the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee (NZVCC).

• Guides to Finding Statistics: links to a general overview to New Zealand data sources plus guidelines on how to find them online and in print. Includes New Zealand statistics, global statistics and finding statistics by subject.

• Databases: links to statistical databases and lists of statistical databases by subject.

• Information and Research Guides: by subject: these webpages, compiled by the business librarians, provide useful links to more statistical data.

See also:

• Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences (COMPASS) University of Auckland.

• New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN) University of Auckland

Statistics New Zealand and the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee (NZVCC) entered into an agreement in 2007. The agreement enabled the development of a statistical data package for New Zealand Universities. The Statistics for Universities  webpage provides information and links to the data package. The package includes:

• Infoshare: Time series data including: economic information, eg price indexes and production figures; demographic measures, eg births, deaths and life expectancy; arrival and departure data; wholesale and retail trade information; exports and imports data; and building consents data. Data found in INFOS has been transferred to Infoshare. Statistics Release calendar provides dates of forthcoming datasets

• Table Builder: this powerful tool offers web-based access to Statistics New Zealand data. Topics include: agriculture, business, employment and unemployment (labour market), exports and imports, household economic statistics, housing quality, housing affordability, income, injury, population estimates and projections, population census (2001 and 2006), and recorded crime. The data is presented in tables from which variables can be selected to create a customised table or graph. Help is provided within Table Builder itself. There is also a useful set of "how to" video clips with audio commentary. They provide instruction on how to access and use Table Builder using 2006 Population Census information and are particularly useful for new users of Table Builder.

• Business Toolbox provides quick and easy access to industry, markets and customer information. The Market Mapper tool can be used to find target markets and potential customers, while the Industry Profiler provides a small business industry profile with information about the number of businesses by region, average employee earnings, and total jobs filled in the industry.
  

• Access to Microdata (AtoM): an analytical tool developed by Statistics New Zealand based on the Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL) system developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. AtoM allows researchers to run SAS code against Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs) and receive confidentialised output by email.

• Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs): these are unit record data that has been modified to protect the confidentiality of respondents while also maintaining the integrity of the data. CURF guidelines will assist with access to both New Zealand and Australian data. Statistics New Zealand CURF information, registration and access. As part of the Statistics New Zealand agreement with New Zealand Universities, the Australian Bureau of Statistics CURFs are available, which also require registration to access.

• Census, the official count of population and dwellings in New Zealand taken every five years. There is allso an additional package of 2006 Census Data Modules that include additional combinations of variables measured in the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings and as a result provides researchers more information in areas that are of interest to them.

• Census Meshblock Data: "The 2006 Census Meshblock Dataset is now available. It contains counts starting at the meshblock level for selected variables from the 2006, 2001 and 1996 Census of Population and Dwellings, rebased to 2006 Census boundaries. The Meshblock Dataset can be integrated with databases (in conjunction with StreetLink) or mapping systems (using Digital Boundaries) to assist analysis and decision making."
   
• Social Sciences Data Package: "The social sciences data package comprises nine modules of data from the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings, in the form of 136 Excel tables. The objective of the package is to enable university users to undertake detailed examination of the social, demographic and economic elements of New Zealand's population. The data package is provided at a national level, although each dataset is broken down into urban/rural categories."

• Digital Boundaries: electronic files of the various geographic boundaries (in digitised form) for use in mapping and geographic information systems (GIS).

• StreetLink: concords streets and areas to larger administrative areas. StreetLink is made up of two parts, the Streets file, and the Areas file. The Streets file is an electronic list of address ranges and street names that fall within meshblocks. The Streets file is updated on a monthly basis.

• Treasury long-term data series: this data series has been collected together by staff at the New Zealand Treasury to provide a general reference source of information on demographic, social and economic trends in New Zealand. The series cover varying periods of time between 1840 and 2004.
   

New Zealand Time Series

• New Zealand Time Series: this is a collection of statistical information in electronic form largely from the Statistics New Zealand database Infoshare (previously INFOS). Some series from the Reserve Bank and from Treasury are also included. The information is organised into broad NZTS subject areas, (eg Government Finance) each of which is further subdivided into files and then series.

Guides to Finding Statistics

• Brief Guide to Statistical Data: the guide outlines some of the problems encountered when trying to locate relevant and reliable data; outlines the different types of data; and links to the University of Auckland Library's impressive collection of statistical data both in print and electronic formats.

• Finding Statistics about New Zealand: this guide to the Library collections provides a general overview to New Zealand data sources available via the internet, the electronic databases and the Library's print collection.

• Internet Sites: includes links to additional economic, financial, political and social data and data archive sites.

• Business Statistics  - tutorial handout: the subject librarian offers a number of different training sessions on finding statistical data. Contact Gillian Ralph for more details.

The Library maintains two in-house databases that provide links to official statistics online, and in print within the Library collection. They are:

• NZSTATS: New Zealand Statistics Sources. This database provides access to internet, database and print sources for data specifically about New Zealand. Web links are arranged by subject.


• OFFSTATS: Official Statistics on the web. This database provides access to free statistics from official sources on the web. Web links are arranged by country, region or subject.

Databases by subject

• Statistical databases: the Library subscribes to a range of statistical databases that allow users to build and download tables of demographic, environmental, social, economic and financial data. Full list of databases.

• Trade data: includes licensed and open source databases and internet sites.

• Financial databases: this list includes links to sources of financial data, including the Wharton Research Database System, SDC Platinum, International Financial Statistics and more.

• Country Information: profiles, rankings and rating

• Energy: Information Sources: includes a section on statistics

• FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) : databases, internet sites, print publications

• Subject Guides webpages: these pages include links to statistical sources. See: Statistics, Mathematics, Business, Finance

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Comments and suggestions to:Gillian Ralph
 Last updated: 3 April, 2012