Given the prominent role
that FDI plays in the global market,
policymakers are particularly
concerned with the monitoring
of this specific category of crossborder
activities. The statistical
measurement of FDI therefore
continues to be a priority on the
agenda of national authorities and
international organizations. The
quality of the statistics depends
largely on the comprehensiveness,
timeliness, reliability and
international comparability of
data. To meet these criteria, official
compilers need to be attentive not
only to the methodology used
for producing estimates of FDI
activity, but also to the various
types of institutional support
available for properly recording
and monitoring such activity. In
addition, their concerns should
go well beyond the compilation
issue, to include revision cycles
for data improvement as well
as dissemination formats and
policies.