The Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (BE-10), which is conducted once every five years, covers the U.S. direct investment abroad universe and is BEAâs most comprehensive survey of such investment. U.S. direct investment abroad is defined as the ownership or control, directly or indirectly, by one U.S. person of 10 percent or more of the voting securities of an incorporated foreign business enterprise or an equivalent interest in an unincorporated foreign business enterprise, including a branch.
The purpose of the benchmark survey is to obtain universe data on the financial and operating characteristics of, and on positions and transactions between, U.S. parent companies and their foreign affiliates. The data are needed to measure the size and economic significance of U.S. direct investment abroad, measure changes in such investment, and assess its impact on the U.S. and foreign economies. Such data are generally found in enterprise-level accounting records of respondent companies. These data are used to derive current universe estimates of direct investment from sample data collected in other BEA surveys in non-benchmark years. In particular, they serve as benchmarks for the quarterly direct investment estimates included in the U.S. international transactions, international investment position, and national income and product accounts, and for annual estimates of the U.S. direct investment abroad position and of the activities of U.S. multinational enterprises.
US Code:
22 USC USC 3101-3108
Name of Law: International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act
This request is for a reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection. Currently, there are no burden hours for the BE-10 survey in the inventory maintained by OMB. Therefore, the estimated burden of 684,900 hours is shown entirely as a program change.
The estimated respondent burden for the previous (2014) survey was 561,100. The increase in the estimated respondent burden is entirely due to an increase in the respondent universe of U.S. and foreign entities that are required to file the BE-10 benchmark survey, partially offset by a net decrease from the amount of information being collected.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.