In order to reflect the development of the diversification of Macao's economy, in 2015 the Macao SAR Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) initiated 'Macao's Economic Diversity Development Statistical Indicator System,' publishing its report on 30^th December, 2016, with the declared intention of the multi-stakeholder approach being to reflect the development of the diversification of Macao's economy. The report revealed that in 2015 the total revenues of the six operators generated by non-gaming activities accounted for 9.4 per cent of total revenues, with 90.6 per cent derived from gaming activities.

The first analysis report edited by DSEC listed the main statistical indicators for an assessment of the situation in the following eight areas of economic diversity: (1) the diversification of industrial structure; (2) diversification of the gaming industry; (3) diversification of gaming concessionaire operation; (4) diversification of the tourism market; (5) diversification of industries related to the gaming and tourism sector; (6) diversification of emerging industries; (7) exploitation of Macao business and residents' development space via external and regional co-operation, and (8) diversification of the employment opportunities of the populace of Macao.

The report included statistical indicators drawn up for the first time – namely, the revenues and weighting of non-gaming activities vis-a-vis concessionaires operating games of chance; the revenue and added value of the gaming sector and its related sectors; emerging industries data (especially traditional Chinese medicine and cultural industries); primary indicators related to the Mainland and Macau Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA); plus the entropy index of economic diversity according to sector structure, and so on.

The entropy index - an academic indicator used to determine the degree of economic diversity - predicates that the higher the value of the index the lower the degree of economic concentration; the lower the index value, the greater the degree of economic concentration. The report indicated that the degree of concentration of Macao's industries increased continuously between 2002 and 2013. In 2014, the trend began to reverse against the backdrop of a fall of 34.3 per cent in gross revenue of the gaming industry, thus the entropy indices of economic diversity by value added of economic activity rose, while at the same time economic concentration slightly subsided.

The report also revealed that including the services provided to customers for free or with promotional discounts, the total revenues of the six operators of the gaming industry totalled MOP254.50 billion in 2015, of which MOP230.59 billion derived from gaming activities, which accounted for 90.6 per cent of total revenues, while the MOP23.91 billion generated by non-gaming activities accounted for 9.4 per cent of total revenues.

In 2015, the total employed population in Macao numbered 397,000 individuals, with 213,000 related to the gaming industry - this accounted for 53.7 per cent of the total employed, growing 0.05 per cent year-on-year although 1.1 percentage points down for the total.

DSCE added several new statistical indicators aimed at four areas: creative design; exhibitions and cultural shows; collection of artistic works; and digital media. The scope of the survey included cultural industries in 2015 according to the defined plan, at which time there were 1,708 cultural entities in the territory, employing 10,192 individuals, with total revenues of MOP6.24 billion and a gross value added of MOP2.05 billion.

Of the four areas, that of 'digital media' generated more revenues and added value, at MOP2.99 billion and MOP1.17 billion, respectively. As for weighting, revenues and added value of 'digital media' accounted for 47.9 per cent and 56.8 per cent, respectively, of all cultural industries.

The Macao Economic Diversity Development Statistical Indicator System Analysis Report has been uploaded to the DSCE website (www.dsec.gov.mo/home_enus.aspx) in Chinese and Portuguese. The printed version can be obtained free of charge from DSCE's office.