Statistical Terms Glossary

Vulnerability is a measure of the extent to which a community, structure, service or geographical area is likely to be damaged or disrupted, on account of its nature or location, by the impact of a particular disaster hazard

A weakness that could be exploited by a Threat. For example an open firewall port, a password that is never changed, or a flammable carpet. A missing Control is also considered to be a Vulnerability.

Vulnerability analysis is the process of estimating the vulnerability to potential disaster hazards of specified elements at risk

Comprising the sum of own-account workers and contributing family workers, who are less likely to have formal work arrangements and, therefore, more likely to lack decent working conditions, adequate social security and ‘voice’ through effective representation by trade unions and similar organizations.

Women, children and persons belonging, or perceived to belong, to groups that are in a disadvantaged position or marginalised.

Vulnerability is related to the likelihood that a population, community, or habitat will experience substantial alteration from short-term or chronic disturbance, and to the likelihood that it would recover and in what time frame. These are, in turn, related to the characteristics of the ecosystems themselves, especially biological and structural aspects. Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems features may be physically or functionally fragile. The most vulnerable ecosystems are those that are both easily disturbed and are very slow to recover, or may never recover.

Vulnerable species are taxa of various types, including:
(a) taxa believed likely to move into the “endangered” category in the near future if the relevant causal factors continue to operate. These factors may include overexploitation, extensive destruction of habitat and other environmental disturbances,
(b) taxa with populations that have been seriously depleted and whose ultimate security has not yet been assured, and
(c) taxa with populations that are still abundant but are under threat from severe adverse factors throughout their range.

Vulnerable workers comprise own-account workers and contributing family workers.

A ravine or valley expected to be dry during the dry season. Sometimes, wadi refers to a stream running through such a valley.

Cash net wage paid to the wage employee from the employer.

May be described through use of three distinct and complementary indicators: average real wages; nominal and real wage rates and/or earnings; average compensation costs. The first two may be viewed from the workers’ standpoint and represent a measure of the levels and trends of their purchasing power and an approximation to their standard of living. The third measure provides an estimate of employers’ expenditure on the employment of labour.

The method with which pension benefits are adjusted taking into account changes in wages.

Measure the basic remuneration per time unit or unit of output.

Wages and salaries include the values of any social contributions, income taxes, etc., payable by the employee even if they are actually withheld by the employer for administrative convenience or other reasons and paid directly to social insurance schemes, tax authorities, etc., on behalf of the employee.

Consist of wages or salaries payable at regular weekly, monthly or other intervals, including payments by results and piecework payments; plus allowances such as those for working overtime; plus amounts paid to employees away from work for short periods (e.g. on holiday); plus ad hoc bonuses and similar payments; plus commissions, gratuities and tips received by employees.

Consist of remuneration in the form of goods and/or services that are not necessary for work and can be used by employees in their own time, and at their own discretion, for the satisfaction of their own needs or wants or those of other members of their households.

Railway vehicle normally intended for the transport of goods.

The maximum authorized weight that a wagon can carry.

Wagon specially built or equipped for the transport of intermodal transport units (ITUs) or other goods road vehicles.

Unit of measurement representing the movement of a wagon loaded or empty over a distance of one kilometre.
Note: To measure the wagon-kilometres performed, the distance to be considered is the distance travelled (each country counts the km performed on its territory). All wagon journeys are included irrespective of the ownership of the wagon. Shunting and other similar movements are excluded.

Unit of measure representing any movement of a wagon loaded or empty over a distance of one kilometre.

The length of time an individual must be employed by a particular employer before joining the employer’s pension scheme.

Permission granted by WTO members allowing a WTO member not to comply with normal commitments. Waivers have time limits and extensions have to be justified.

Instead of suppressing tabular data, some agencies ask respondents for permission to publish cells even though doing so may cause these respondents’ sensitive information to be estimated accurately. This is referred to as the waiver approach.

Situation whereby a lender waives its right to a negative pledge (i.e. an agreement that the borrow er will not pledge any of its assets if doing so would result in less security to the lender covered under the agreement) in a loan agreement. The Bank normally will not waive its negative pledge rights but did so recently (along with other creditors) in the 1987 Mexican collateralized bond scheme. See negative pledge clause.

It is an assistive device, traditionally with a single contact to the floor, that is used by persons with moderately reduced balance. There are various kinds of walking sticks, in terms of material used (wood or metal) and length (fixed or adjustable) (Disability Living Foundation, n.d.). Additionally there are walking sticks that can be folded and those that also come with a seat, the latter is used by those who have difficulty to remain in a stand-up position in a queue.

A price index defined as the weighted arithmetic average of the current to base period price relatives which uses the quantities of an intermediate basket as weights. The quantities of the intermediate basket are geometric averages of the quantities of the base and current periods. It is a symmetric index and a superlative index.