Comparability

Comparability - geographical

This type of accounts is - as far as we know - only available for Denmark and the Netherlands, but with other classifications. Thus, it is not possible to make direct international comparisons.

For certain items it is possible to compare with other countries, by looking at the primary data, that are behind the accounts.

Comparability over time

The accounts are available for 2020 and 2018, and in an earlier (archived) version for 2016.

The accounts are not fully comparable due to changes in source data and methods. When comparing the 2020 and 2018 accounts special awareness should be directed towards the data for filled packaging materials and waste, since there has been a change in the data sources and methods. For the 2020 accounts a more elaborated and precise estimation of filled packaging materials has been introduced, and more emphasis has been put on comparability with similar data from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. In addition a more elaborated estimation of dissipative flows of materials to the environment is introduced.

Special care should be taken when comparing the 2020 and 2018 accounts with the archived 2016 accounts.

For certain items it is possible to compare over longer time periods by looking at the primary data that are behind the accounts.

Coherence - cross domain

Data for extraction of natural resources, waste, supply and use of energy, and emissions to air are comparable with other data from the Environmental-Economic Accounts.

Import and exports data are comparable with data from International trade in goods.

Output of goods is comparable with data in Purchases and sales by manu­facturing industries

It is in general possible to compare data for output of goods and intermediate consumption with similar data from the national accounts. However, differences may occur for certain items since the material flow accounts are based on the territory principle, while the national accounts apply the residence principle.

Due to enumerations and consolidation of data in the material flow accounts it may, however, not in all cases be possible to compare data across different statistics and accounts.

Coherence - internal

Data are internally coherent.