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The UK Longitudinal Business Database

Author

Listed:
  • Lemma, Yohannes
  • Lui, Silvia
  • Romaniuk, Louise
  • Wolf, Nick

Abstract

This paper introduces the UK Longitudinal Business Database (LBD), a new and experimental business reference database developed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It describes the input data, the data linkage and filtering methodology behind the LBD. The LBD is a re-usable longitudinal data spine that is built by using consecutive snapshots of the Inter- Departmental Business Register (IDBR), the UK business register, to capture longitudinality. IDBR unit-specific economic activity criteria are applied to all units of the business structure hierarchy. This process creates the closest measure to date of the active UK business population. The data spine only reflects dynamics embedded in various IDBR snapshots without imposing assumptions to variables that measure business activities. Hence, it provides a flexible, reusable and consistent framework to link firm-level data from administrative and survey sources, via unique identifiers, to create longitudinal linked datasets that suit different user needs. This paper aims to facilitate proper use and understanding of LBD-generated data by ONS-accredited microdata researchers. To aid understanding, it also presents comparisons with existing UK and US business demography datasets, new evidence on firm entry and exit and on the changing distribution of the UK business population at a quarterly frequency, 1999-2022. LBD-created datasets will be accessible to accredited researchers in the ONS Secure Research Service (SRS).

Suggested Citation

  • Lemma, Yohannes & Lui, Silvia & Romaniuk, Louise & Wolf, Nick, 2023. "The UK Longitudinal Business Database," Technical Reports escoe-tr-23, Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence.
    • Handle: RePEc:eoe:escoet:escoe-tr-23
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard Fabling, 2009. "A Rough Guide to New Zealand's Longitudinal Business Database," Global COE Hi-Stat Discussion Paper Series gd09-103, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    2. Teresa C Fort & John Haltiwanger & Ron S Jarmin & Javier Miranda, 2013. "How Firms Respond to Business Cycles: The Role of Firm Age and Firm Size," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 61(3), pages 520-559, August.
    3. Pol Antràs & Evgenii Fadeev & Teresa C. Fort & Felix Tintelnot, 2022. "Global Sourcing and Multinational Activity: A Unified Approach," NBER Working Papers 30450, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Zoltán J. Ács & Pamela Mueller, 2015. "Employment effects of business dynamics: Mice, Gazelles and Elephants," Chapters, in: Global Entrepreneurship, Institutions and Incentives, chapter 16, pages 304-319, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Pol Antràs & Evgenii Fadeev & Teresa C. Fort & Felix Tintelnot, 2022. "Global Sourcing and Multinational Activity: A Unified Approach," Working Papers 22-36, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    6. Silvia Lui & Russell Black & Josefa Lavandero-Mason & Mohammad Shafat, 2020. "Business Dynamism in the UK: New Findings Using a Novel Dataset," Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE) Discussion Papers ESCoE DP-2020-14, Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE).
    7. Peter Evans & Richard Welpton, 2009. "Methods explained - Business Structure Database," Economic & Labour Market Review, Palgrave Macmillan;Office for National Statistics, vol. 3(6), pages 71-75, June.
    8. Richard Fabling & Lynda Sanderson, 2016. "A Rough Guide to New Zealand's Longitudinal Business Database (2nd edition)," Motu Working Papers 16_03, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    9. Andrew B. Bernard & Stephen J. Redding & Peter K. Schott, 2011. "Multiproduct Firms and Trade Liberalization," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 126(3), pages 1271-1318.
    10. Ron S Jarmin & Javier Miranda, 2002. "The Longitudinal Business Database," Working Papers 02-17, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fetzer, Thiemo & Palmou, Christina & Schneebacher, Jakob & Yotzov, Ivan, 2024. "How do firms cope with economic shocks in real time?," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 722, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    2. Forth, John & Bryson, Alex & Palmou, Christina, 2025. "A Roadmap for Developing a New LEED Infrastructure for the UK," Technical Reports escoe-tr-28, Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C80 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - General
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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