International Accounts Data Needs: Plans, Progress, and Priorities

BEA’s International Accounts Directorate is responsible for preparing the nation’s estimates of the international transactions accounts, international investment position, and operations of U.S. parent companies and U.S. and foreign affiliates, and for preparing analyses of major developments and problems in these areas. While BEA has made numerous improvements to the international accounts in recent years, several needs remain unmet. This paper identifies major unmet needs, and establishes priorities for the future. BEA believes that it is important to make significant progress on each of its priorities, but it cannot make significant progress on all priorities simultaneously. BEA would appreciate feedback on the list of priorities.