The data that is available based on this classification is still limited in terms of countries and the available time period. At the time of analysis (January 2014), the UN’s Structural Analysis Database (STAN) Statistics Database provided data for 15 countries from 2000 until 2011 based on ISIC Revision 4, whereas for Revision 3 it held data for 35 countries from 1970 until 2009. Using the ISIC Revision 3 data clearly pose advantages in terms of the available countries and time period, but it is impossible to disentangle the information sector data from other data. So for example for many countries there is only data for “C90T93 Other community, social, and personal data”. The analysis of the information economy is interested in “C92 Recreational, cultural, and sporting activities” that is not available separately, but only aggregated together with “C90 Sewage and refuse disposal, sanitation, and similar activities”, “C91 Activities of membership organizations”, and “C93 Other service activities”. Similarly telecommunications is merged with postal services as “C64 Post and telecommunications”. If one is only interested in telecommunications, then no separate data are available.
ISIC Revision 4 poses advantages for the analysis of the information economy. Its limit is that thus far only data for a few countries are available, that economically powerful countries are missing (for example China, Japan, the UK, Brazil, Russia, India, Canada, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey), and that historical data have not been recoded. The advantage is however that the statistical aggregates are more userfriendly and ready to use for the analysis of the information economy. Another benefit is in this respect the introduction of a new sector “J Information and communication” that consists of the following statistical aggregates:
58 Publishing activities,
59 Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities,
60 Programming and broadcasting activities,
61 Telecommunications,
62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities,
63 Information service activities.
Chapter Twelve | The Information Economy
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