"National statistical offices use three kinds of survey methodology when producing official statistics based on microdata: methods for censuses, for sample surveys and for register surveys. This book deals with the third kind of methodology - methods for register surveys, where instead of collecting data through interviewers and questionnaires, administrative registers from different administrative systems are adapted and processed to create statistical registers that are used to produce the desired estimates. We introduce several concepts and principles that should be used when discussing register surveys. These concepts and principles form the methodological bases for this kind of survey. There is a growing interest in this area. Many countries increasingly use administrative registers for statistical purposes, and there is a growing demand for an understanding of register survey methodology. However, preconditions differ - in some countries the preconditions are good, while in other countries there can be obstacles that make it difficult to use data from some administrative systems. We discuss such obstacles and how the national statistical system can be improved to reduce the problems. We give special attention to countries desiring to take the first steps towards a register-based statistical system."-- Provided by publisher.