Turkmenistan

GENERAL INFORMATION AND BASIC DEFINITIONS

1. Background

Further information is available from The National Institute of Statistics and Information of Turkmenistan of 74.4000 Ashgabat, Mahtumkuli Avenue 72, phone: 99312 39 42 65, fax: 99312 35 43 79, e-mail: natstat@natstat.gov.tm.
Data have been collected by household survey since 1991. ¹

2. Purpose and coverage

The following purposes are considered to be very important or of some importance:

• to obtain weights for consumer price index
• to estimate household expenditure for national accounts
• to study the general structure of household incomes/expenditures
• to study income/expenditure patterns of disadvantaged groups, including pensioner households, single parent households, etc
• to study income/expenditure disparities among socio-economic groups
• to study consumer behaviour among socio-economic groups
• for general poverty and/or income distribution studies
• to study effects on income and expenditure of policy changes, especially tax changes
• for market research purposes
• influence of the state grants on the budget of households

Geographic coverage: National without any specific geographic areas excluded.

Population coverage:
The following types of household are included in the data collection:

• one person private households
• armed forces residing in private housing within military base

The following types of household are excluded in the data collection:

• those in collective housing (such as long term hospitals, prisons, monasteries, military quarters)
• non-resident households of nationals (households of nationals located abroad)
• diplomatic households in the country
• households of other foreigners in the country
• armed forces residing in private housing outside military base

Units: Dwelling units are not used in the sample selection.

Data are recorded for the household unit which is characterised by:

• one person units
• two or more people living together:
  • pooling their income to some extent

Data are recorded for the income unit which is characterised by:

• two or more people:
  • living in the same household
  • pooling their income to some extent

Data are recorded for the consumer unit, expenditure unit or spending unit which is characterised by:

• two or more people:
  • living in the same household
• and sharing a common budget (income and expenditure)

Unit members: Usual residents temporarily living away from the dwelling are not included as unit members. Visitors (not usual residents) temporarily living in the dwelling are not included as unit members. Domestic staff living in same dwelling/compound are included in the unit. Renters living in same dwelling/compound are included in the unit. Boarders living in same dwelling/compound are not included in the unit.

Head of unit:
The concept of head of household/other unit is used in this survey and is characterised by:

• acknowledged as such by other household/unit members

3. Reference periods

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

4. Sample design

The Primary, Secondary and Ultimate Sampling Units are enumeration area/district, address and household respectively.

Stratification:
Areas/districts were stratified using the following criteria:

• geographical regions
• rural/urban

The sampling frames for the Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) and Ultimate Sampling Unit (USU) were the list of Census enumeration areas and a separate listing exercise respectively. Primary Sampling Units (PSU) were selected using probability proportional to size. The sample size was 25 interviews. The overall response rate for the survey was 85 percent. Errors/biases were minimized by using an increased sample size.

Enumeration procedure: Enumeration uses a panel design in which each reporting unit is enumerated more than once. The sample is not divided into representative sub-samples. The panel has an expected lifetime of 3 years, and each reporting household/unit is enumerated 6 times in total. If a reporting household/unit drops out from the panel, it is replaced. If changes occur in composition of the reporting household/unit during the lifetime of the panel, then it is abandonned. No action is taken to select a smaller set of reporting units for more detailed questioning.

DATA COLLECTION, CONCEPTS, DEFINITIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS

5. Income data

Income data are collected. Receipts have to be regular and recurring to be considered as income. Income includes receipts resulting from the sale or reduction of assets and/or from incurring liabilities are included in income. Income excludes receipts that are not currently available to the unit.

The following receipts are collected separately:

• wages and salaries
• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• old age benefits
• other pensions
• sickness benefits
• invalidity benefits
• education-related allowances
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services

The following receipts are collected but not separately:

• cash bonuses and gratuities
• commissions and tips
• remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
• termination and redundancy payments
• employer social security contributions
• employee social security contributions
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: car/transportation
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services
• profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• goods produced for own consumption
• services produced for own consumption
• goods produced for barter
• services produced for barter
• stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise
• services from owner-occupied dwellings
• services from other consumer durables (net)
• interest received
• dividends
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house)
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
• royalties
• regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
• family-related allowances
• survivors benefits
• free government dwelling
• subsidized government dwelling
• food subsidies
• other social insurance benefits
• other social assistance benefits
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular cash gifts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: subsidized dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular free services
• social transfers in kind: transport subsidies
• social transfers in kind: others

The following receipts are not collected:

• unemployment benefits , excluded for other reasons
• housing allowances , excluded for other reasons
• medical reimbursements , excluded for other reasons
• social transfers in kind: medical services , excluded for other reasons
• social transfers in kind: public education , excluded for other reasons
• social transfers in kind: cultural and recreational services , excluded for other reasons

The following receipts are classified as income from paid employment:

• wages and salaries
• cash bonuses and gratuities
• commissions and tips
• remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
• termination and redundancy payments
• employer social security contributions
• employee social security contributions
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: car/transportation
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services
• profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
• survivors benefits

The following receipts are classified as income from self-employment:

• goods produced for own consumption
• services produced for own consumption
• goods produced for barter
• services produced for barter
• stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise

The following receipts are classified as property income:

• services from owner-occupied dwellings
• services from other consumer durables (net)
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house)
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)

The following receipts are classified as transfer income but not employment-related:

• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular cash gifts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

The following receipts are classified as other employment-related income:

• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• other pensions
• sickness benefits

The following receipts are classified as other income but not employment-related:

• interest received
• dividends
• royalties
• old age benefits
• family-related allowances
• invalidity benefits
• education-related allowances
• free government dwelling
• subsidized government dwelling
• food subsidies
• other social insurance benefits
• other social assistance benefits
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: subsidized dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular free services
• social transfers in kind: transport subsidies
• social transfers in kind: others

The following receipts are excluded for other reasons:

• unemployment benefits
• housing allowances
• medical reimbursements
• social transfers in kind: medical services
• social transfers in kind: public education
• social transfers in kind: cultural and recreational services

The following receipts are collected using the last month as the reference period:

• wages and salaries
• cash bonuses and gratuities
• commissions and tips
• remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
• termination and redundancy payments
• employer social security contributions
• employee social security contributions
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: car/transportation
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services
• profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• goods produced for own consumption
• services produced for own consumption
• goods produced for barter
• services produced for barter
• stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise
• services from owner-occupied dwellings
• services from other consumer durables (net)
• interest received
• dividends
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house)
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
• royalties
• regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• old age benefits
• other pensions
• family-related allowances
• sickness benefits
• invalidity benefits
• education-related allowances
• survivors benefits
• free government dwelling
• subsidized government dwelling
• food subsidies
• other social insurance benefits
• other social assistance benefits
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular cash gifts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: subsidized dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular free services
• social transfers in kind: transport subsidies
• social transfers in kind: others

Income data were collected separately for each person receiving income. Components of income for an individual were collected from one person who reported for all individuals. Negative values (business losses) were included when computing self-employment income.

6. Expenditure data

Data collection method:
Diaries are used to collect expenditure data and are maintained for one month.

Diaries are used to collect expenditure on the following items:

• food
• alcohol, tobacco
• other household non-durables (such as newspapers, batteries)
• clothing, footwear
• other personal non-durables (such as perfumes)
• household services (such as plumber)
• personal services (such as driving lessons, haircuts)

Interviews are used to collect expenditure data with the respondent completing the interview by a mix of recall and using documentation.

Data for the following expenditure items are collected by referring:

• to expenditures in last one month:
  • food
  • other household non-durable goods
  • clothing, footwear
  • other personal non-durable goods
  • housing
  • other durable goods
  • households services
  • personal services
  • other items

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Household consumption expenditure':

• non-durable goods purchased
• durable goods purchased (except housing)
• purchase price of owner-occupied housing
• mortgage repayments, including interest
• services of owner-occupied housing
• major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied housing
• own produced non-durable goods
• own-produced durable goods
• own-produced services
• services from durables owned (except housing)
• interest payments (excluding mortgage interest payments)
• financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
• non-life insurance premiums (e.g. vehicle, housing, other property, medical)
• life insurance premiums
• licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
• out of pocket health expenditure
• out of pocket education expenditures
• housing maintenance, minor repairs
• second hand goods purchased
• expenditure abroad

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Actual Household consumption':

• income in-kind receipts of goods
• income in-kind receipts of services
• in-kind goods received from other households
• in-kind services received from other households
• social transfers in-kind of goods and services from government and non-profit institutions serving households
• purchase of gifts of goods and services given to others outside the household

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Non-consumption household expenditure':

• regular cash payments to others outside the household
• non-regular cash payments to others outside the household
• compulsory transfers to governments (e.g. contributions to government old age and disability insurance program, taxes)

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Non-household expenditure':

• gambling expenditure
• out of pocket transport expenditures
• occupational expenditures
• other business-related expenditures

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Investment/liability expenditure':

• valuables
• investment-related expenditures (e.g. purchase of shares/stocks)

The following types of expenditure items are collected on a 'use' basis:

• own produced non-durable goods
• own-produced durable goods
• own-produced services

The following types of expenditure items are collected on a 'payments' basis:

• non-durable goods purchased
• durable goods purchased (except housing)
• purchase price of owner-occupied housing
• mortgage repayments, including interest
• services of owner-occupied housing
• major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied housing
• income in-kind receipts of goods
• income in-kind receipts of services
• services from durables owned (except housing)
• social transfers in-kind of goods and services from government and non-profit institutions serving households
• interest payments (excluding mortgage interest payments)
• financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
• non-life insurance premiums (e.g. vehicle, housing, other property, medical)
• life insurance premiums
• licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
• out of pocket health expenditure
• out of pocket education expenditures
• out of pocket transport expenditures
• housing maintenance, minor repairs
• regular cash payments to others outside the household
• non-regular cash payments to others outside the household
• purchase of gifts of goods and services given to others outside the household
• second hand goods purchased
• expenditure abroad
• compulsory transfers to governments (e.g. contributions to government old age and disability insurance program, taxes)
• investment-related expenditures (e.g. purchase of shares/stocks)
• occupational expenditures

The following types of expenditure items are collected on a mixed basis:

• in-kind goods received from other households
• in-kind services received from other households
• gambling expenditure
• valuables
• other business-related expenditures

Classification: A national classification is used for classifying expenditure and has an unspecified number of separate categories at the finest level. The classification is consistent with COICOP at the Class (4 digit) level.

7. Other Data Collection Issues

The following other topics are covered:

• demographic characteristics
• education attainment of members
• employment status of members
• occupation of members
• ownership of selected durable goods
• housing characteristics
• savings

Households are not requested to indicate whether durable goods are new or second-hand when their acquisition is recorded.

Non-response: There is no substitution for non-response, whether by non-contact or by refusal.

Non-response is reduced using the following measures:

• more than one repeat visits
• monetary rewards

Reporting errors are reduced using the following measures:

• careful instrument design
• quality control

DATA PROCESSING, ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION

Answers are pre-coded on data collection forms to the extent possible.

The responses are edited by the following:

• interviewers, data collectors
• office staff

Extreme values are retained without change. Consumption of own production is included in the estimates, but in-kind receipts are not. Consumption of own production is valued using: the respondent's estimate.

Treatment of owner-occupied housing: Values of owner-occupied housing are not included in the total income/expenditure estimates.

Treatment of selected groups/values in analysis: No households/units are excluded from analysis because of incomplete response. Missing values are retained without change . Supplementary sources are not used to adjust estimates for under- or over-reporting. No groups are excluded from data analysis.

Weighting:
Weighting factors are used to adjust for:

• sampling
• bench-marking

Sampling errors: Sampling errors are computed for major aggregates and these sampling errors are available on request.

Tabulation and Analysis:

The following classifications are used for tabulation and analysis of income statistics:

• age of reference person or head of household
• sex of reference person or head of household
• occupation of reference person or head of household
• other characteristic of reference person or head of household, education, type of employment
• income percentiles, deciles and quintiles
• absolute income groups
• expenditure percentiles
• household size
• structure of household
• other characteristic of household, presence of children

The following classifications are used for tabulation and analysis of expenditure statistics:

• age of reference person or head of household
• sex of reference person or head of household
• occupation of reference person or head of household
• other characteristic of reference person or head of household, education, type of employment
• income percentiles, deciles and quintiles
• absolute income groups
• expenditure percentiles
• household size
• structure of household
• other characteristic of household, presence of children

Documentation and Dissemination:
Published survey reports: Statistical Yearbook, 2002
Published methodological information: Technique of sample and rotation of Household, 2001

Additional statistics (or special tables on request) are available for public use, free of charge. Separate tables are published for households with wages/salaries as main source of income. Files of unidentifiable unit data are available (or available on request) for public use, with charges.