The prospects of municipal statistics and local self-government data collection problems

Abstract

Decision-making should be based on the most comprehensive knowledge of the current situation. There is a significant imbalance in the different government levels (federal, regional and municipal) information provision in Russia nowadays. The primary aim of the investigation is to identify and describe the main practical methods of getting information about the municipality by local authorities (which are important due to the existence of legal restrictions of such activity) and to reveal its advantages and disadvantages, to determine the basic factors that generate information asymmetry. Conducted field research has provided the results which allow us to develop the proposals of improving the quality of statistical data and enhancing the informational and statistical basis of local self-government. It is suggested to strengthen the role of municipal and departmental statistical data in the official statistics formation and to implement the practices of intra- and interdepartmental information exchange.