Naciones Unidas

Eurostat microdata

Background

 

Access to quality and authoritative data, forms an important input of the research output of ECLAC. In 2017, a substantive ECLAC Division (DPPE), required access to Eurostat’s microdata.  Taking into consideration the fact that Eurostat microdata would be useful for many other research areas at the Commission, the Division of Programme, Planning and Operations (DDPO), created a task force of several sections and units in order to analyze the possibility of a relationship with the European institution towards having continuous access to its microdata sets.

The Task Force, which included the DPPO, the Legal Office, the Hernán Santa Cruz Library and STIC, studied the Eurostat procedures and documentation, and applied to Eurostat for ECLAC to be recognized as a research entity. Eurostat agreed to the proposal noting that when ECLAC becomes recognized as research entity, it must ensure access to microdata under a specific set of rules and regulations related to data confidentiality. In September 2018, almost one year to date and after a long and complex process, ECLAC headquarters in Santiago received research entity status from Eurostat.    

The access to Eurostat’s confidential datasets benefits not only ECLAC but also researchers, as they are allowed an increased access to authoritative information towards improving the scope and detail of research. Some of the most valuable research comes from detailed personal and business microdata; but the level of detail can also raise concerns about the sensitivity of the data.  Therefore - as a research entity - ECLAC has not only have gained the benefit of access to relevant microdata for research, but also agreed to manage sensitive data. Each research team member is fully responsible for the protection of this data. Accept that some restrictions are the price of the privileged access to detailed data - 'privileged' because not everyone is allowed access to use this data. 

 

 

 

 

 

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