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What is the Economic Census?
The objectives of the Economic Census are to identify the actual situation of business activities of establishments and enterprises as well as identifying the comprehensive industrial structure in Japan, and to organize information on the population for conducting various statistical surveys for establishments and enterprises.
The Economic Census consists of two surveys -- the "Economic Census for Business Frame" to identify the basic structure of establishments and enterprises and the "Economic Census for Business Activity" to identify the situation of economic activities of establishments and enterprises.
The Economic structure statistics produced by the Economic Census, as important statistics equivalent to the Population Census Statistics (Population Census) and the National Accounts Statistics, are positioned to be fundamental statistics pursuant to the Statistics Act (Act No.53 of 2007).
What is the Economic Census for Business Activity?
In accordance with the increasing diversification of Japanese economic activity, the Economic Census for Business Activity was introduced in 2012 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the prefectural and municipal governments of Japan. This is the second Economic Census for Business Activity to be conducted.
The census is carried out by one of two means, depending on the nature of the establishment to be surveyed.
Enumerators visit single-unit establishments without branch shops, etc., to distribute census forms.
The national government mails out census forms to the head offices of enterprises with branch shops, etc., and includes questionnaire content for the subsidiary establishments
Difference from the Economic Census for Business Frame
The "Business Frame" census conducted in July 2014 is focused on ascertaining more basic matters, such as establishment and enterprise attributes.
The "Business Activity" census currently being conducted is focused on the business activities of enterprises, such as sales, costs and capital investment.
