Poland

Title: Household Budget Survey 2001

GENERAL INFORMATION AND BASIC DEFINITIONS

1. Background

Further information is available from The Central Statistical Office of Poland of Al.Niepodleglocsi 208 00-925 Warsaw, Poland, phone: 6083202, fax: 6083872, e-mail: m.haponiuk@stat.gov.pl.
Data have been collected by household survey since 1957.

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

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
• armed forces residing in private housing outside 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
• nomadic and other households difficult to reach: homeless people

Units:
Dwelling units are used in the sample selection and are characterised by:

• street address

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

• one person units
• two or more people living together:
  • sharing a single dwelling or compound
  • sharing a common budget for (at least) food and housing expenditures
  • pooling their income to some extent

Unit members: ¹ Renters living in same dwelling/compound are not included in the unit. Boarders living in same dwelling/compound are not included in the unit.

Head of unit: ²
The concept of head of household/other unit is used in this survey and is characterised by:

• main income earner

3. Reference periods

The time period to which income and/or expenditure statistics refer when released/published is from 01/01 to 12/01. These data are collected in the period from 01/01 to 12/01. This survey is conducted continuously. The statistics are published annually.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

4. Sample design

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

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

• rural/urban
• administrative districts
• towns classed according to number of inhabitants

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 32400 households or other units and 31847 interviews. The overall response rate for the survey was 54.7 percent. Errors/biases were minimized by using an updated sampling frame.

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 2 years, and each reporting household/unit is enumerated 2 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 continues in the panel. No action is taken to select a smaller set of reporting units for more detailed questioning.

Two independent sub-samples are selected. Each consists of 675 primary sam-pling units. Each sub-sample is selected for two consecutive years. Every year one sub-sample enters the survey and one sub- sample drops the survey.From each PSU 24 dwellings are selected - two in every month. Each household selected takes part in the survey two times per month for two consecutive years. Households that are initially selected but do not want to participate in the survey are replaced by households from a spare sampl e selected in each primary sampling unit..

DATA COLLECTION, CONCEPTS, DEFINITIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS

5. Income data

Income data are collected. Receipts do not 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:

• profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• goods produced for own consumption , gross of inputs
• stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise
• interest received
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house) , net of expenses
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• other pensions
• unemployment benefits
• family-related allowances⁵
• invalidity benefits
• housing allowances

The following receipts are collected but not separately:

• wages and salaries
• cash bonuses and gratuities
• commissions and tips
• remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
• termination and redundancy payments
• employee social security contributions⁴ , excluded for other reasons: (4)
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
• dividends
• royalties
• sickness benefits
• education-related allowances
• 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 inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular cash gifts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

The following receipts are not collected:

• employer social security contributions
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: car/transportation
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services (mobile phone)
• services produced for own consumption
• goods produced for barter
• services produced for barter
• services from owner-occupied dwellings
• services from other consumer durables (net)
• regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
• old age benefits
• survivors benefits
• free government dwelling
• subsidized government dwelling
• medical reimbursements
• 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: 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: medical services
• social transfers in kind: public education
• social transfers in kind: transport subsidies
• social transfers in kind: cultural and recreational services
• social transfers in kind: others

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
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer

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

• profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• goods produced for own consumption , gross of inputs
• stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise
• royalties

The following receipts are classified as property income:

• interest received
• dividends
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house) , net of expenses
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)

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

• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• other pensions
• family-related allowances⁵
• sickness benefits
• other social insurance benefits

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

• unemployment benefits
• invalidity benefits
• education-related allowances
• housing allowances
• food subsidies
• 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

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

• regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular cash gifts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

The following receipts are excluded for other reasons:

• employee social security contributions⁴

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

• cash bonuses and gratuities

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

• wages and salaries
• commissions and tips
• remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
• termination and redundancy payments
• employee social security contributions⁴
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
• profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• goods produced for own consumption , gross of inputs
• stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise
• interest received
• dividends
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house) , net of expenses
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
• royalties
• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• other pensions
• unemployment benefits
• family-related allowances⁵
• sickness benefits
• invalidity benefits
• education-related allowances
• housing allowances
• 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 inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

The following receipts are collected using the last 12 months as the reference period:

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

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.³

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 3 months:
  • other durable goods
  • personal services

Data for the following expenditure items are not collected by interview because they are collected by diary:

• food
• other household non-durable goods
• clothing, footwear
• other personal non-durable goods
• housing
• households services

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

• non-durable goods purchased
• durable goods purchased (except housing)
• income in-kind receipts of goods
• own produced non-durable goods
• own-produced durable goods
• in-kind goods received from other households
• in-kind services received from other households
• financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
• non-life insurance premiums (e.g. vehicle, housing, other property, medical) , gross of claims
• licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
• gambling expenditure , gross of winnings
• out of pocket health expenditure , gross of claims
• out of pocket education expenditures , gross of refunds
• out of pocket transport expenditures , gross of refunds
• housing maintenance, minor repairs
• second hand goods purchased
• valuables : all the kind of valuables

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
• purchase of gifts of goods and services given 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':

• others : imput and other expenditure related to running a farm

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

• mortgage repayments, including interest
• major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied housing
• interest payments (excluding mortgage interest payments)
• life insurance premiums , gross of claims
• investment-related expenditures (e.g. purchase of shares/stocks)

The following types of expenditure items are excluded due to measurement problems:

• services of owner-occupied housing

The following types of expenditure items are excluded for other reasons:

• purchase price of owner-occupied housing (out of the survey range)
• income in-kind receipts of services (out of the survey range)
• own-produced services (out of te survey range)
• services from durables owned (except housing) (out of the survey range)
• social transfers in-kind of goods and services from government and non-profit institutions serving households (out of the survey range)
• expenditure abroad (out of the survey range)
• occupational expenditures (out of the survey range)
• other business-related expenditures (out of the survey range)

The following types of expenditure items are collected on an 'acquisitions' basis:

• income in-kind receipts of goods
• own produced non-durable goods
• own-produced durable goods
• in-kind goods received from other households
• in-kind services received from other households

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

• non-durable goods purchased
• durable goods purchased (except housing)
• mortgage repayments, including interest
• major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied 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) , gross of claims
• life insurance premiums , gross of claims
• licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
• gambling expenditure , gross of winnings
• out of pocket health expenditure , gross of claims
• out of pocket education expenditures , gross of refunds
• out of pocket transport expenditures , gross of refunds
• 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
• valuables : all the kind of valuables
• 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)
• others : imput and other expenditure related to running a farm

Classification: A national classification is used for classifying expenditure and has 396 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

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

Non-response: Non-response households (refusals and non-contacts) are substituted.

Non-response is reduced using the following measures:

• more than one repeat visits
• monetary rewards
• other incentives : a calendar and information

Reporting errors are reduced using the following measures:

• bounding interview
• adequate cues or props for prompting
• quality control

DATA PROCESSING, ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION

Answers are not pre-coded on data collection forms, but are coded by the interviewers (data collectors).

Extreme values are retained without change. In-kind receipts and consumption of own production are included in the estimates. In-kind receipts are valued using:⁶ the respondent's estimate. Consumption of own production is valued using:⁶ 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. 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:

• non-response
• bench-marking

Sampling errors: Sampling errors are computed for major aggregates and these sampling errors are published.

Tabulation and Analysis: Statistics are presented showing averages per month and statistics are analysed and tabulated for households only.

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

• other characteristic of reference person or head of household, level of education
• income percentiles
• absolute income groups
• principal source of household income
• expenditure percentiles
• household size
• structure of household
• other characteristic of household, farm size
• other classification, urban/rural areas, regions

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

• other characteristic of reference person or head of household, level of education
• income percentiles
• absolute income groups
• principal source of household income
• expenditure percentiles
• household size
• structure of household
• other characteristic of household, farm size
• other classification, urban/rural areas, regions

Documentation and Dissemination:
Published survey reports: Household Budget Survey in 2001, Living Conditions in 2001, 2002
Published methodological information: Methodological remarks are included in "HBS 2001", 2002

Additional statistics (or special tables on request) are available for public use, with charges. 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.