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Does asking about citizenship increase labor survey non-response?

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Bernhardt

    (University of Chicago)

  • Phanindra V. Wunnava

    (Middlebury College)

Abstract

The unsuccessful attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census has drawn attention to citizenship questions on other surveys. Simultaneously, researchers have noted a secular increase in Current Population Survey (CPS) non-response. We combine these topics, studying the effect of the CPS citizenship question, added in the 1994 CPS redesign, on refusals. Direct panel regressions show states with higher rates of non-citizenship have higher refusal rates. An event-study regression discontinuity shows a 20-40% increase in refusals attributable to the redesign. Moreover, a difference-in-differences research design shows states with larger non-citizen and Hispanic populations were more affected by the redesign. These results imply the question causes non-citizens and Hispanics to refuse to participate in the survey disproportionately. Given the question appears to threaten the representativeness of the survey, we recommend there be a randomized controlled trial to precisely determine the question’s effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Bernhardt & Phanindra V. Wunnava, 2023. "Does asking about citizenship increase labor survey non-response?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(4), pages 2457-2481, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:36:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s00148-023-00945-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-023-00945-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alan B. Krueger & Alexandre Mas & Xiaotong Niu, 2017. "The Evolution of Rotation Group Bias: Will the Real Unemployment Rate Please Stand Up?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(2), pages 258-264, May.
    2. Baum, Matthew A. & Dietrich, Bryce J. & Goldstein, Rebecca & Sen, Maya, 2019. "Estimating the Effect of Asking About Citizenship on the US Census: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial," Working Paper Series rwp19-015, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    3. Brown, J. David & Heggeness, Misty L. & Dorinski, Suzanne M. & Warren, Lawrence & Yi, Moises, 2019. "Estimating the Potential Effects of Adding a Citizenship Question to the 2020 Census," IZA Discussion Papers 12087, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. J. David Brown & Misty L. Heggeness & Suzanne M. Dorinski & Lawrence Warren & Moises Yi, 2019. "Predicting the Effect of Adding a Citizenship Question to the 2020 Census," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(4), pages 1173-1194, August.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Current population survey; Non-response; Survey refusal; Citizenship status; Immigration; Event study; Regression discontinuity; Panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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