Epp Remmelg: inimesed ei vasta enam küsitlejate kõnedele

·12 min·1 clip

The Statistic Office reveals its year-end survey of 10,000 people is failing as respondents fear unknown callers.

The episode begins with an introduction to the EELARV survey, an annual effort by the Estonian Statistic Office to collect detailed household expenditure data from 10,000 people. Prem Melke explains the survey's quarterly structure, targeting 2,500 people every three months, with 400 invited bi-weekly to report expenses over two weeks. A major issue is declining response rates, as people are increasingly hesitant to answer calls from unknown numbers, fearing scams or valuing privacy. Melke notes that the office sends advance notices via mail or email to verify legitimacy, but distrust persists. He compares this to Latvia, where a similar Europe-wide survey saw only a 20% response rate last year, indicating a broader regional problem. In Estonia, the first quarter saw over 1,000 completions from 2,500 invites, but final data collection remains challenging. Demographic biases are discussed: younger men and older residents are underrepresented, with younger men often too busy and older people more willing but not representative alone. The survey needs diverse groups, including families with children and single parents, for accurate insights. Melke mentions that statisticians use weighting adjustments for underrepresented groups, but this is a temporary fix. He shares anecdotes, such as a respondent answering after ten calls out of curiosity, showing that persistence can pay off. Interviewers are trained to call back at convenient times, like during commutes or family gatherings, to improve engagement. The episode explores whether AI could help, but Melke states that human contact is still preferred, though online response rates have declined. Cultural spending data is briefly mentioned, with Estonians spending 24% on theater and cinema, above the European average of 14%. The conversation concludes with reflections on rising living costs and the importance of reliable data for policy-making.

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