Statistical Terms Glossary

Intentional deception resulting in injury to another. Fraud usually consists of a misrepresentation, concealment, or nondisclosure of a material fact, or at least misleading conduct, devices, or contrivance.

A set of currency-specific interest rates for major OECD countries. CIRRs have been established for 13 currencies, the majority of which are based on either the five-year government bond yields or on three-, five- and seven-year bond yields, according to the length of the repayment period. CIRRs are adjusted monthly and are intended to reflect commercial rates.

Land mainly used for commerce, trade and related services, such as shopping centres, banks, commercial garages, repair shops, commercial storage facilities, related office buildings, etc. Also included are private roads and other auxiliary spaces located in the areas concerned. In terms of ISIC/Rev.3, the activities included in this category can be described by divisions 50-55, 65-74, 91 and 93.

Lending not always at market rate but under normal market conditions (e.g., as regards maturity, reimbursement) (see market-related lending).

A US FCC designation for any carrier or licensee whose wireless network is connected to the public switched telephone network and/or is operated for profit.

Commercial paper is an unsecured promise to pay a certain amount on a stated maturity date, issued in bearer form. CP enables corporations to raise short-term funds directly from end investors through their own in-house CP sales team or via arranged placing through bank dealers.

Having an office, branch, or subsidiary in a foreign country.

In the context of export credits, the risk of nonpayment by a non-sovereign or private sector buyer or borrower in his or her domestic currency arising from default, insolvency, and/or a failure to take up goods that have been shipped according to the supply contract (contrasted with transfer risk arising from an inability to convert domestic currency into the currency in which the debt service is payable, or with broader political risk).

Sea transport undertaken for commercial purposes either for payment (i.e. hire and reward) or on the enterprise’s own account as part of a wider economic activity.

Sexual exploitation includes sexual coercion and manipulation by a person in a position of power who uses that power to engage in sexual acts with a person who does not have power. Examples include: A humanitarian worker requiring sex in exchange for material assistance, favors, or privileges; A teacher requiring sex in exchange for passing grade or admission to class; A refugee leader requiring sex in exchange for favors or privileges; or A soldier or security worker requiring sex in exchange for safe passage (Reproductive Health Consortium Response in Crises, 2003).

A classification used by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to describe traders that use the futures market primarily to hedge their business activities.

A commercial vessel is defined by the United States Coast Guard as any vessel (i.e. boat or ship) engaged in commercial trade or that carries passengers for hire. This would exclude pleasure craft that do not carry passengers for hire or warships.

See fee; guarantee commission, fee; management commission, fee; selling commission.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Established in 1946, the CSW is dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of the status of women. It is the principal global policy-making body, meeting annually to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide. CSW prepares recommendations and reports to ECOSOC on the promotion of women’s rights in all fields: political, economic, civil, social and educational. CSW also prepares recommendations to ECOSOC on problems relating to women’s rights that require immediate attention.

Agent in Japan which acts for the IBRD (or other non-Japanese financial institutions) in the issue of bonds on the Japanese market.

A firm obligation, expressed in writing and backed by the necessary funds, undertaken by an official donor to provide specified assistance to a recipient country or a multilateral organisation.

The authority that a financial institution has to make credit commitments based on the amount of resources it has received or had committed from donors.

This is the charge made for holding available the undisbursed balance of a loan commitment. Typically, it is a fixed-rate charge (for example, 1.5 percent a year) calculated on the basis of the undisbursed balance.

The Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics (CMFB) was established by Council Decision in 1991 to assist the European Commission in drawing up and implementing work programmes concerning monetary, financial and balance of payments statistics, and to offer opinions on these areas of statistics and on their links with other areas of economic statistics, in particular national accounts. (Indeed, the government statistician members of the CMFB are usually responsible for macroeconomic statistics in their countries.)
The context was the need to make statistical preparations for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). The CMFB is an independent committee with advisory functions; it has no legislative powers. The original Council Decision has been amended to reflect changes since 1991.

Is a subcommittee of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO's) Committee on Commodity Problems that monitors food aid flows to ensure that surplus disposal does not interfere with normal production and trade patterns, in compliance with the FAO Principles of Surplus Disposal (1954).

The body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the Convention by the States Parties.

Commodity-linked bond where the interest payments (and/or principal repayment) are denominated in units of a particular commodity and hence the price of the commodity at the time the interest payment is determined.

Bond where the return on financing is linked to the price of an underlying commodity.

A bond whose redemption value is linked to the price of a commodity. Typically, issuers whose income stream is closely tied to commodity earnings issue these bonds.