The purpose of the valuation conventions outlined in this note is to enable a basic level of consistency to be built into the UNITE Accounts and MC information. This consistency is needed so that users of the UNITE results can: • compare the results from one MC case study with another; • compare across cost categories within an account; and • read the MC case studies and accounts together for a particular country; and • read the results at an EU level. The conventions are not meant to tie the hands of the individual account leaders and case study leaders. They relate only to basic items such as: the price base year (1998); values of time and statistical life; discount rates; and the unit of account (which is factor cost). If partners have any problems accommodating the conventions - for example because their country data is based on a different definition - then there are a number of ways in which the empirical work can proceed, essentially by: • adapting the data to the convention in appropriate ways where this can be supported by evidence and can be made transparent in the UNITE outputs - for example, conversion to the UNITE base year for prices (1998) by adjusting for inflation using price indices; or • only where there is no robust basis for adjusting the data, making explicit in the UNITE outputs that the results are not based on the UNITE conventions, for example by using labels, notes to the tables, footnotes, etc to make clear what the inconsistency is. This note identifies the conventions and aims to indicate how country-level data can be adapted if necessary. The co-ordinator (John Nellthorp or Tom Sansom) will be happy to help resolve any outstanding problems during the project. Conventions are based on the methodology set out in Deliverables D1-3, with some additional material by the relevant Work Package leaders. (Author/publisher) For other reports in the UNITE project, see http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/projects/unite/
Samenvatting