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Does Repeated Measurement Improve Income Data Quality?

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  • Paul Fisher

Abstract

This paper exploits a natural experiment created by a survey design to show that the quality of income data systematically changes across waves of a panel. We estimate that the effect of being interviewed for a second time, relative to the first, is to increase mean monthly income by 8%. Dependent interviewing – a recall device commonly used in panel surveys – explains one third of the observed increase. The remaining share is attributed to changes in respondent behaviour (panel conditioning). We review the evidence for and against a reporting improvement vs. a behavioural response by survey participants.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Fisher, 2019. "Does Repeated Measurement Improve Income Data Quality?," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 81(5), pages 989-1011, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:obuest:v:81:y:2019:i:5:p:989-1011
    DOI: 10.1111/obes.12296
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicole Kapelle, 2021. "Why Time Cannot Heal All Wounds: Personal Wealth Trajectories of Divorced and Married Men and Women," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1134, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    2. Fransham, Mark, 2020. "Neighbourhood gentrification, displacement, and poverty dynamics in post-recession England," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103905, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Paul Fisher & Omar Hussein, 2023. "Understanding Society: the income data," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 377-397, December.
    4. An Ta & Bert Van Landeghem & Aki Tsuchiya, 2024. "Eliciting public preferences across health and wellbeing dimensions: An equivalent income value set for SIPHER‐7," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(12), pages 2723-2741, December.
    5. Felix Chan & Laszlo Matyas & Agoston Reguly, 2024. "Modelling with Sensitive Variables," Papers 2403.15220, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2025.
    6. Van Landeghem, Bert, 2019. "Stable traits but unstable measures? Identifying panel effects in self-reflective survey questions," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 83-95.
    7. Crossley, Thomas F. & Fisher, Paul & Hussein, Omar, 2023. "Assessing data from summary questions about earnings and income," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    8. Richiardi, Matteo & van de Ven, Justin & Vella, Melchior, 2024. "Mind vs matter: economic and psychologic determinants of take-up rates of social benefits in the UK," Centre for Microsimulation and Policy Analysis Working Paper Series CEMPA6/24, Centre for Microsimulation and Policy Analysis at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    9. Davillas, Apostolos & de Oliveira, Victor Hugo & Jones, Andrew M., 2023. "Is inconsistent reporting of self-assessed health persistent and systematic? Evidence from the UKHLS," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

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