Monitoring data collection for Household Budget Survey and digital transformation: an integrated approach to improve survey techniques

Abstract

The Household Budget Survey is a key pillar for understanding consumption dynamics and informing national political and economic decisions. The accuracy and reliability of the data collected depend, to a large extent, on the effectiveness of the survey process. This study aims to explore in detail data monitoring for the Household Budget Survey, analysing current challenges and possible solutions to optimize survey techniques and adapt them to the new needs of the socio-economic context. It seems necessary to exploit the potential offered by technological and methodological innovation and reduce the use of paper-based survey questionnaires in favour of data acquisition systems more suitable for certain respondent profiles, such as web questionnaires and applications for mobile devices. Particular emphasis is placed on the training of personnel involved in data collection, who is asked to acquire new interdisciplinary skills, and on the need to implement meticulous and continuous quality control strategies and tools.