Index Numbers

Book - Link (English) - 2018

Index numbers are an essential tool for synthesizing economic data, enabling the measurement of variables like a country’s economic growth or inflation rate, and facilitating international comparisons. Using different formulas can yield varied results, making comparisons invalid; thus, understanding these formulas is crucial. Harmonization and standardization of measurements by countries and international organizations are necessary. Although often linked to macroeconomics, the theoretical foundation of index numbers lies in microeconomics. Manuals from agencies like the UN, IMF, World Bank, ILO, Eurostat, and OECD disseminate recommended practices and microeconomic theory. This publication explores the relationship between price and volume indices and microeconomic theory, presenting recommended formulas for international comparisons.

Book Chapter - Link (Spanish) - 2015

This chapter synthesizes the connections between price and volume index numbers and microeconomic theory, along with the recommended formulas for international measurements. It starts with a simple example and then progresses to more complex analyses.