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Perks and pitfalls of city directories as a micro-geographic data source

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  • Albers, Thilo N.H.
  • Kappner, Kalle

Abstract

Historical city directories are rich sources of micro-geographic data. They provide information on the location of households and firms and their occupations and industries, respectively. We develop a generic algorithmic work flow that converts scans of them into geo- and status-referenced household-level data sets. Applying the work flow to our case study, the Berlin 1880 directory, adds idiosyncratic challenges that should make automation less attractive. Yet, employing an administrative benchmark data set on household counts, incomes, and income distributions across more than 200 census tracts, we show that semi-automatic referencing yields results very similar to those from labour-intensive manual referencing. Finally, we discuss how to scale the work flow to other years and cities as well as potential applications in economic history and beyond.

Suggested Citation

  • Albers, Thilo N.H. & Kappner, Kalle, 2023. "Perks and pitfalls of city directories as a micro-geographic data source," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:87:y:2023:i:c:s0014498322000547
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eeh.2022.101476
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    city directories; data extraction; granular spatial data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics
    • N9 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History

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