The challenge to identify and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens
In April 2006 the Federal Government adopted the programme “Reduction of Bureaucracy and Better Regulation”. In that programme, the Government undertakes to reduce in a verifiable way administrative burdens caused by information obligations for businesses, citizens and authorities and to avoid new burdens. Its implementation is an overall and permanent task of the Federal Government, involving all ministries. A “Better Regulation Unit” in the Federal Chancellery coordinates the activities involved.
A National Regulatory Control Council (NKR), which was newly established under the programme, advises and supports the Federal Government. As an independent body it advises the legislature and examines new legal provisions from the point of view of future administrative burdens.
The programme is based on the Standard Cost Model (SCM). The SCM methodology is used to record, measure and assess all bureaucratic burdens caused by reporting requirements. The Federal Statistical Office is responsible for the model to be used in a uniform manner and for its practical implementation and it advises all authorities involved.
The Federal Statistical Office as a service provider for the Federal Government and the National Regulatory Control Council
Based on the law on setting up a National Regulatory Control Council, the Federal Statistical Office has been entrusted with measuring and assessing the administrative costs by means of the Standard Cost Model. In so doing, we rely on our long-term experience, methodological competence, technical infrastructure and recognised independence. This also relates to the well-known high standards of quality control that we apply.
Taking into account that the application of the Standard Cost Model – notwithstanding all specific features in detail – basically means collection, processing and evaluation of data, the Federal Statistical Office is the body that has the personnel with the know-how required and sophisticated instruments for data collection and processing. It uses, for instance, modern data expansion and estimation procedures.
The development of the central database reveals IT competence – a capability already demonstrated in the elections to the Federal Parliament. For the registration of reporting obligations we use a web-based application, which has already been employed in online surveys for some time (IDEV). To obtain a solid data base, we use synergies from our everyday statistical practice in the following stages of work as well. The results are available online in a well-structured and functional web database.
