Final Report

• About statistics
• Methodology & quality
• General methodology
• Specific methodology
• Commerce, Energy and Industry methodology
• Economy methodology
• Labour Market methodology
• Natural and Built Environment methodology
• Population and Migration methodology
• Public Sector methodology
• UKCeMGA
• Atkinson Review
• Final report
• Further information
• External links
• Social and Welfare methodology
• Travel and Transport methodology
• Quality
• Methodology Advisory Committee
• GSS Methodology Conference
• Census methodology
• About ONS

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The Final Report builds on and refines the material and provisional conclusions in the Interim Report. It explains what Sir Tony sees as a principled framework for measuring government output in the National Accounts, within international guidelines, and sets out a number of recommendations on how these should be implemented.

It reports on plans to improve further measurement of output in four spending areas: health; education; public order and safety; and social protection.

The report is concerned with methodological issues; it does not contain any new statistics on government output or productivity.

Atkinson Review: Final Report (1.3Mb, pdf)

Contents (101Kb, pdf)

Preface (240Kb, pdf)

Chapter 1: Introduction (129Kb, pdf)
Explains the terms of reference and context of the Atkinson Review, along with the functions and limits of National Accounts.

Chapter 2: Measuring Government Output in the UK (220Kb, pdf)
Measuring government output, inputs and productivity: conventional approach and developments.

Chapter 3: The International Context (155Kb, pdf)
International guidelines: UN System of National Accounts 1993, European System of Accounts 1995, Eurostat Handbook of Price and Volume Measures.

Chapter 4: Methodology for the Future: the Principles (210Kb, pdf)
Provides a methodological framework, setting out the principles that form the basis for measuring government output, inputs and productivity.

Chapter 5: Inputs and Deflators (245Kb, pdf)
Implications for National Accounts in measuring inputs and deflators i.e. complex data flows, data classifications and poor data timeliness.

Chapter 6: Outputs (174Kb, pdf)
Discusses the nature of classification of the functions of government, treatment of collective elements, joint products, joint producers, weighting, quality adjustment, output and productivity measurement.

Chapter 7: Implementation (158Kb, pdf)
Explains the timescales, prioritisation, recommended improvements to quality adjustment process including external involvement, work for the future and resource costs.

Chapter 8: Health (225Kb, pdf)
Examines current and previous methods of output and input measurement, and critique. Future methods are discussed, with recommendations for change.

Chapter 9: Education (199Kb, pdf)
Examines current and previous methods of output and input measurement, and critique. Future methods are discussed, with recommendations for change.

Chapter 10: Public Order and Safety (189Kb, pdf)
Examines current and previous methods of output and input measurement, and critique. Future methods are discussed, with recommendations for change.

Chapter 11: Social Protection (228Kb, pdf)
Examines current and previous methods of output and input measurement, and critique. Future methods are discussed, with recommendations for change.

Chapter 12: Summary (187Kb, pdf)
Summaries key points and repeats conclusions and recommendations from earlier in the report. There are 54 recommendations in all.

Appendix A: Consultation (103Kb, pdf)
UK and International Consultation.

Appendix B: International Guidance (207Kb, pdf)
International guidelines from UN System of National Accounts 1993, European System of Accounts 1995, Eurostat Handbook of Price and Volume Measures.

Glossary, list of abbreviations, references and index (212Kb, pdf)