Development indicators : data requirements and availability

Abstract

Preoccupation with the development problems of African countries, reflected in the practice of drawing up development plans became evident frca the 1940s. Fron the statistical perspective, the planning activities were characterized two sector, which is difficult to map statistically, serious data gaps existed. The data problem was also accentuated by the lack of trained statistical well as the usage and adaptation of alien concepts and classifications. Secondly planning activities depended overwhelmingly on macro economic information, given that the planning approach adopted in many African countries mirrored that the developed countries. where postwar economic development thinking was greatly influenced by Keynesian theory. Thus for many years, plan formulation and sycteoatization relied on macro economic data such as on production, prices, income., and national account indicators, l/ Accordingly, these subjects have been the ones accorded priority in data collection exercises. Despite the tremendous data proolenu and conceptual difficulties with constructing national income accounts and other macro economic indicators, they became the principal indexes for evaluating the development process»