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Mind the mode: lessons from a web survey on household finances

Author

Listed:
  • Romina Gambacorta

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Martina Lo Conte

    (Istat)

  • Manuela Murgia

    (Istat)

  • Andrea Neri

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Roberta Rizzi

    (Istat)

  • Francesca Zanichelli

    (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

Surveys on household income and wealth are generally carried out through personal interviews. In recent years, however, the spread of surveys using the Internet as a means of data collection has increased, both for economic reasons and for the speed with which the collected data are available. However, there are no studies on the effects of using this tool in surveys on household income and wealth. This paper contributes to fill this gap by illustrating the results of an experimental survey conducted in 2016 by the Bank of Italy in collaboration with the Italian national statistical institute (ISTAT). The quality of the information collected is assessed by comparison with tax statistics and with the aggregate evidence inferable from the interim survey conducted through personal interviews. The paper focuses on coverage, non-response and measurement errors. Overall, the results show that the web-based mode can be a valid alternative means of collecting qualitative data and of gathering information on less sensitive sources of income (such as employment and retirement income). In order to reduce the bias associated with the use of this instrument, it is essential, however, to have auxiliary information on the entire selected sample.

Suggested Citation

  • Romina Gambacorta & Martina Lo Conte & Manuela Murgia & Andrea Neri & Roberta Rizzi & Francesca Zanichelli, 2018. "Mind the mode: lessons from a web survey on household finances," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 437, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_437_18
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    File URL: https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/qef/2018-0437/QEF_437_18.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M. Giovanna Ranalli & Andrea Neri, 2011. "To misreport or not to report?, The case of the Italian survey on household income and wealth," Statistics in Transition new series, Główny Urząd Statystyczny (Polska), vol. 12(2), pages 281-300, October.
    2. Lynn, Peter & Peter, Martin, 2011. "The effects of mixed mode survey designs on simple and complex analyses," ISER Working Paper Series 2011-28, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    3. Giovanni D�Alessio & Stefano Iezzi, 2015. "How the time of interviews affects estimates of income and wealth," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 273, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bańnkowska, Katarzyna & Borlescu, Ana Maria & Charalambakis, Evangelos & Da Silva, António Dias & Di Laurea, Davide & Dossche, Maarten & Georgarakos, Dimitris & Honkkila, Juha & Kennedy, Neale & Kenny, 2021. "ECB Consumer Expectations Survey: an overview and first evaluation," Occasional Paper Series 287, European Central Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    survey mode effects; non coverage bias; web surveys;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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