5.1. The compilation of balance of payments and international investment position statistics is a complex process requiring the use of a wide range of data sources and methods, many of which are statistically complex. The purpose of this chapter is to describe these data sources and methods, and to give the reader a broad understanding of the compilation process. (For a fuller discussion of the balance of payments compilation process, the reader is referred to the IMF Balance of Payments Compilation Guide, particularly Chapter 20.)
5.2. The chapter begins by describing the main techniques used in deriving the data items. It goes on to describe some of the key data sources, and concludes by providing a broad description of selected data models. To supplement this, Appendix 1 lists and describes the data sources used and indicates where they are used. Appendix 2 describes some of the more complex data models and indicates the standard components in which they are used. Chapters 6 to 10 and 12 to 14, which focus on broad standard components of the balance of payments and international investment position, describe in tabular form the sub-components and their data sources and methods. Where appropriate, these chapters elaborate further on aspects of data sources and data models which should be taken into account when compiling a particular standard component.
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