Main Report Of "Household Income And Expenditure Survey/Living Standards Measurement Survey", 2002-2003 (Featured Report)

Since the onset of the transition to a market economy of Mongolia our country the need to study changes in people's living standards in relation to household members' demographic situation, their education, health, employment and household engagement in private enterprises has become extremely important. With that purpose and with the support of the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, the National Statistical Office of Mongolia conducted the Household Income and Expenditure Survey with Living Standards Measurement Survey-like features between 2002 and 2003. Prior to this survey, the first Living Standards Measurement Survey was carried out in 1995 with technical and financial support from the World Bank and the second Living Standards Measurement Survey followed in 1998 with the support from United Nations Development Programme.

The integrated Household Income and Expenditure Survey with Living Standards Measurement Survey used new sample design and methodology in accordance with international methodologies, and it combined two different types of surveys, namely, the Household Income and Expenditure Survey and the Living Standards Measurement Survey. While doing the survey, we used the principle of using a combination of data. For example, the Household Income and Expenditure Survey collected data based on monthly questionnaires on housing services, housing, electricity, fuel and similar costs, as well as daily food purchase lists. The Living Standards Measurement Survey collected data on other non-food expenditures through quarterly questionnaires. A total of 11,232 households were surveyed under the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, and a sub-sample of 3,308 was surveyed under the Living Standards Measurement Survey. The integrated processing of data from two different surveys collected at various times at the same survey units provided an opportunity to ensure better linkage between income and expenditures. Moreover, through this experience we have made a contribution to the international practice on these two surveys. The new sample design of the survey was made in such a way as to have national average, by 4 main settlements such as the capital city, aimag centers, soum centers, as well as by urban and rural areas. This enabled to report and analyse the information in accordance with the regions determined by the Government of Mongolia.

This survey report has main results on key poverty indicators, used internationally, as they relate to various social sectors. Its annexes contain information regarding the consumption structure, poverty lines along with the methodology used, as well as some statistical indicators.

The results of this survey provide the picture of the current situation of poverty in Mongolia in relation to social and economic indicators and will contribute toward implementation and progress on National Millennium Development Goals articulated in the National Millennium Development Report and monitoring of the Economic Growth Support and Poverty Reduction Strategy, as well as toward developing and designing future policies and actions. We are also pleased to note that the survey enriched the national database on poverty and contributed in improving the professional capacity of experts and professionals of the National Statistical Office of Mongolia.

We hope that the results of the survey will provide policy makers and decision makers with realistic information about poverty and will become a resource for experts and researchers who are interested in studying poverty as well as social and economic issues of Mongolia.

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