Definition: Special Data Dissemination Standard

Category: OECD - Data and Metadata Reporting

The Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) was established by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to guide members that have, or that might seek, access to international capital markets in the provision of their economic and financial data to the public. Subscription to the SDDS was opened in early April 1996.

The SDDS identifies four dimensions of data dissemination:

a) The data: coverage, periodicity, and timeliness;
b) Access by the public;
c) Integrity of the disseminated data; and
d) Quality of the disseminated data.

The SDDS prescribes that subscribing members provide a summary description of methodology for each data category, including statements of major differences from international guidelines. The term "methodology" is used in the SDDS in a broad sense to cover the aspects of analytical framework, concepts, definitions, classifications, accounting conventions, sources of data, and compilation practices. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/coded_files/OECD_data_metadata_report_handbook_EN.pdf