Information gaps in open data in Spain

Abstract

This paper studies how public statistical data are becoming open in the catalogs of Spain´s central and regional governments. It starts with the hypothesis that documentary treatment is insufficient, especially if we consider that statistics are particularly relevant in the open data world. This paper examines three issues regarding official statistics: what meets the requirements required of open data, how data can be found in the catalogs, and whether they can be properly understood ahead of reuse. These three aspects involvedefining open data and public statistics, considering whether it is possible to identify the statistical information in the portals, and finally determining if the documentary treatment allows reuse with guarantees. The results show a wide disparity, both in the form of designating the statistical information (findability) and how to offer it (accessibility). Therefore, a portal can increase data dispersion when they are recovered. Furthermore, only some portals describe datasets so that they are readily intelligible. We conclude with the need to concentrate efforts or at least coordinate actions with respect to the supply of open data in Spain.