Half a century of Dutch manufacturing

CPB has issued a data book of 18 manufacturing branches in the Netherlands, covering the second half of the 20th century. The data book contains annual profitand loss accounts by branches of industry in nominal values, and split into volume and price components. This note describes the contents of the data book. Some trends illustrate interesting opportunities to apply the dataset Introduction About thirty years ago, CPB started a data book of the Dutch manufacturing branches, with time series from 1950 onwards, as far as available. This data book had been updated each year, and every time Statistics Netherlands started the registration of new topics the data book was also expanded with these topics. The data are used as input for scenario projections of the annual profitand loss accounts of Dutch manufacturing, split into volumeand price components1. The data book extensively accounts for the sources used. Data and sources, accompanied by a manual, are available on internet2. This note describes the contents of the data book. The data book aims to stimulate the analysis of Dutch manufacturing. Boxes are used to illustrate the diversity in development of the manufacturing branches, based on figures from the data book. Distinguished branches The data book distinguishes the following branches of industry: * For more information, contact Herman Noordman (tel: +31-70-3383370; e-mail: [email protected]), or Bert Minne (tel: +31-70-338368; e-mail: [email protected]) There are three reasons for the chosen level of detail. First, it is the lowest level of aggregation consistent with macroeconomic figures. Second, the division is in accordance with international statistics on manufacturing and thus permits international benchmarking in research on industrial branches. Third, the division corresponds with the institutions operating in the manufacturing industry, such as employers’ organisations, trade unions and ministries, which makes this data book particularly useful for these institutions. The link between the institutions and the distinguished branches is not surprising. Institutions are organised as a community of interests. Their interests concern goals of government policy (relating to the environment, energy, safety, innovation, education, and wage levels) or standardisation, which lead to efficient production on a higher level than that of the individual firm. These goals are related to distinct production technologies and the input of raw materials. This is reflected in the classification by branches in this data book, as can be illustrated by the following. Standardisation, innovation and high-level education are linked to discrete production technologies and new products, characteristics that apply to the electronic industry. Wage levels are particularly important for labour-intensive industries, such as the metal product industry, the machinery industry and the clothing industry. The themes environment, energy and safety are linked to continuous processing and the input of oil. The basic chemical industry in particular fulfils these conditions. Topics The items on the profitand loss accounts of the branches are listed in table 2. Table 1 The 18 branches of industry Metal-electro industry Iron and steel Non-ferrous metals Metal products Mechanical machinery Electronics industry Instruments Cars Shipbuilding and repair Aircraft and repair, and aerospace Bicycles, trains Chemical industry Basic chemicals Final chemicals Plastic and synthetic products Paper and paper products Publishing and printing Textiles Clothing, apparel Leather and footwear Table 2 Profitand loss accounts Gross production at producer prices Change in stocks Total sales Dutch market, homemade products Consumer goods Government expenditures Investment goods Intermediates Exports from home production Costs and operating expenses Total use of intermediates Home delivered Imported Wages, salaries and social benefit premiums Cash flow Indirect taxes Received subsidies Depreciation Profits before interest payments and direct taxes 38 cp b R ep or t 20 0 3/ 3