Guide to Analyze Natural Resources in the National Accounts
This Guide to Analyze Natural Resources in the National Accounts (The Guide) presents and explains a set of standard Template Tables using the concepts recommended in the United Nations’ System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA). Economic activity associated with natural resources is macro-critical for about 30 percent of Fund member countries. Nevertheless, the available data on natural resources to guide policymaking and assess economic performance have often been limited. The Template Tables will guide compilation of national accounts for natural resources, and provide indicators for understanding the macroeconomic impact of changes in natural resource output and prices. Also, as part of the initiatives to develop national accounts beyond GDP, The Guide goes beyond production and covers other areas such as income, financing, labor, terms of trade, and depletion. It also takes into account Goal 5 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (gender equality) by showing employment by gender.
The Guide is consistent with, and builds upon, the Template to Collect Data on Government Revenues from Natural Resources (GFS Template) by expanding coverage to the full suite of economic units and macroeconomic accounts. It also addresses the broader range of analytical questions that arise in national accounts.
The Guide has been field tested with a diverse range of stakeholders, including statistical compilers. Country tables will be made available on the Fund’s website with the authorities’ consent. The Statistics Department will collaborate with selected area department teams and other stakeholders to implement The Guide in countries, as appropriate.
This project was supported by the Managing Natural Resource Wealth-Topical Trust Fund (MNRW-TTF) with funding provided by Australia, the European Union, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, and Switzerland.