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Where Are Your Parents? Exploring Potential Bias in Administrative Records on Children

Author

Listed:
  • Jennifer Bernard
  • Kelsey Drotning
  • Katie R. Genadek

Abstract

This paper examines potential bias in the Census Household Composition Key's (CHCK) probabilistic parent-child linkages. By linking CHCK data to the American Community Survey (ACS), we reveal disparities in parent-child linkages among specific demographic groups and find that characteristics of children that can and cannot be linked to the CHCK vary considerably from the larger population. In particular, we find that children from low-income, less educated households and of Hispanic origin are less likely to be linked to a mother or a father in the CHCK. We also highlight some data considerations when using the CHCK.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer Bernard & Kelsey Drotning & Katie R. Genadek, 2024. "Where Are Your Parents? Exploring Potential Bias in Administrative Records on Children," Working Papers 24-18, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    • Handle: RePEc:cen:wpaper:24-18
    as

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    File URL: https://www2.census.gov/library/working-papers/2024/adrm/ces/CES-WP-24-18.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2024
    Download Restriction: no
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brittany Bond & J. David Brown & Adela Luque & Amy O’Hara, 2014. "The Nature of the Bias When Studying Only Linkable Person Records: Evidence from the American Community Survey," CARRA Working Papers 2014-08, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    2. Katie Genadek & Joshua Sanders & Amanda Stevenson, 2022. "Measuring US fertility using administrative data from the Census Bureau," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(2), pages 37-58.
    3. Reichman, Nancy E. & Teitler, Julien O. & Garfinkel, Irwin & McLanahan, Sara S., 2001. "Fragile Families: sample and design," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4-5), pages 303-326.
    4. Elizabeth Martin, 2007. "Strength of attachment: Survey coverage of people with tenuous ties to residences," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 44(2), pages 427-440, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • C55 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Large Data Sets: Modeling and Analysis

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