Finding Microlevel Data for Economists at Princeton University: Education and Labor

Contacts Bobray Bordelon, Economics/Finance/Data

bordelon@princeton.edu Linda Oppenheim, Industrial Relations Librarian

(labor and education)lindao@princeton.edu

Todd Hines, Economics/Finance/Datathines@princeton.edu

Data & Statistics Consultantsdata@princeton.edu

A Few Definitions

Summary statistics: Aggregated counts of survey or administrative data. (e.g. Number of persons in an area)

Micro-data: Survey or administrative data about an entity. (e.g. person, family, household, establishment)

A Few Definitions (from ICPSR)

Cross-sectional Study: Data from particular subjects are obtained only once. (Note that questions in a cross-sectional study can apply to previous or later time periods.)

Longitudinal (Panel) Study: Same group of individuals (panel) is interviewed at intervals over a period of time.

A Few Definitions (from ICPSR)

Panel: A group of individuals who are interviewed more than once over time in a longitudinal survey.

Wave: In a panel study, interviewing period during which the entire panel is surveyed and asked the same questions.

Cautions Using Microdata 1. Time lag: typically 2+ years from collection to

release 2. Sub-national data: very little available and

often restricted. 3. Restricted data: not uncommon to wait a year

before getting permission or denial to use the data.  Need to show why public use version is not sufficient. Each country has its own rules.

4. Public use versions: Aggregation of some variables

Cautions (cont’d.) 5. Level of specificity of question 6. Title of survey v. subject of survey 7. Cross-national comparisons: What exists

for one country may not exist for another country. Data is generally inconsistent across borders.

Identifying & Finding Microdata

Literature search: Check methodology section of articles, books, working papers, etc.Literature Databases:

Econlit – economics including labor ERIC – education ICPSR Bibliography of Data-

related Literature

Smith, James P. “Immigrants and the labor market,” Journal of Labor Economics, 2006, vol. 24, no. 2.

New York Times article

Accompanying graph

Identifying & Finding Microdata

Statistical tablesUse the table footnotes, methodology sections, etc. in yearbooks, statistical compilations, etc.

Statistical Compilations: Labor

Statistical Abstract of the United States Handbook of U.S. Labor Statistics (electronic 2006, print 2009 in Social Science Reference Center (SSRC) call no. HD8051 .A63)Year-book of Labour Statistics (ILO) (Social Science Reference Center (SSRC) call no. HD7801.I6 A36)Laborsta (ILO): International Labour Office database for over 200 countries or territories regarding labor and consumer prices. 

Statistical Compilations: Education

Statistical Abstract of the United States

Digest of Education Statistics (NCES)

Condition of Education (NCES)

Education at a Glance (OECD) (SSRC) LB2846 .E247 (paper version)

Education Statistics on the Web

Identifying & Finding Microdata

DSS web site: Subject categories for data sets.

Identifying & Finding Microdata

Government statistical agencies: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, etc.

Identifying & Finding Microdata

Data archives: Repositories such as ICPSR, UK Data Archive, etc.

ICPSR Search data Variables Database Bibliography of Data-Related Literature Series

Variable and Question Indexes and Databases 

Identifying & Finding Microdata

Princeton University Library Catalog

Identifying & Finding Microdata

Google Be careful about authority Use “microdata” + keyword term

Labor Microdata

Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

Panel Study on Income Dynamics (PSID)

National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS)

Comparison chart

National Longitudinal SurveysNational Longitudinal Surveys of Young Men and Older Men-- The Young Men's survey, which was discontinued in 1981, includes ~5200 men who were ages 14-24 when first interviewed in 1966. The Older Men's survey, which was discontinued in 1990, includes ~5000 men who were ages 45-59 when first interviewed in 1966.National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Mature Women (NLSW)—Sample size: The Young Women's survey includes ~ 5000 women who were ages 14-24 when first interviewed in 1968. The Mature Women's survey includes ~5000 women who were ages 30-44 when first interviewed in 1967. Frequency: These surveys are now conducted simultaneously in odd-numbered years.National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79)-- Survey of men and women born in the years 1957-64; respondents were ages 14-22 when first interviewed in 1979. Frequency: annual, 1979 to 1994; biennial, 1994— present Sample size: 12,686NLSY79 Children and Young Adults-- Survey of the biological children of women in the NLSY79. Frequency: 11 biennial roundsNational Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97)-- Survey of young men and women born in the years 1980-84; respondents were ages 12-17 when first interviewed in 1997. Frequency: 10 annual rounds (1997-2008). Sample size: 9000

Education Microdata

National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS)

Common Core of Data (CCD) Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) Private School Universe Survey (PSS) Integrated Postsecondary Education

Data System (IPEDS)

Statistical Software Supported Stata MATLAB SPSS SAS

Also: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, DBMS/Copy

Finally

Remote access“Connect from off-campus”

Citing and bibliographic software