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Efficient Aggregation Of Panel Qualitative Survey Data

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  • James Mitchell
  • Richard J. Smith
  • Martin R. Weale

Abstract

Qualitative business survey data are used widely to provide indicators of economic activity ahead of the publication of official data. Traditional indicators exploit only aggregate survey information, namely the proportions of respondents who report “up” and “down”. This paper examines disaggregate or firm-level survey responses. It considers how the responses of the individual firms should be quantified and combined if the aim is to produce an early indication of official output data. Having linked firms’ categorical responses to official data using ordered discrete choice models, the paper proposes a statistically efficient means of combining the disparate estimates of aggregate output growth which can be constructed from the responses of individual firms. An application to firm-level survey data from the Confederation of British Industry shows that the proposed indicator can provide early estimates of output growth more accurately than traditional indicators.
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Suggested Citation

  • James Mitchell & Richard J. Smith & Martin R. Weale, 2013. "Efficient Aggregation Of Panel Qualitative Survey Data," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 580-603, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:japmet:v:28:y:2013:i:4:p:580-603
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    Cited by:

    1. Kevin Lee & Michael Mahony & Paul Mizen, 2020. "The CBI Suite of Business Surveys," Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE) Technical Reports ESCOE-TR-08, Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE).
    2. Fornaro, Paolo, 2016. "Predicting Finnish economic activity using firm-level data," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 10-19.
    3. Alex Botsis & Kevin Lee, 2022. "Nowcasting Using Firm-Level Survey Data; Tracking UK Output Fluctuations and Recessionary Events," Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE) Technical Reports ESCOE-TR-20, Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C35 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • C80 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - General

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