IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/nbr/nberwo/25738.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Combining Administrative and Survey Data to Improve Income Measurement

Author

Listed:
  • Bruce D. Meyer
  • Nikolas Mittag

Abstract

We describe methods of combining administrative and survey data to improve the measurement of income. We begin by decomposing the total survey error in the mean of survey reports of dollars received from a government transfer program. We decompose this error into three parts, generalized coverage error (which combines coverage and unit non-response error and any error from weighting), item non-response or imputation error, and measurement error. We then discuss these three sources of error in turn and how linked administrative and survey data can assess and reduce each of these sources. We then illustrate the potential of linked data by showing how using linked administrative variables improves the measurement of income and poverty in the Current Population Survey, focusing on the substitution of administrative for survey data for three government transfer programs. Finally, we discuss how one can examine the accuracy of the underlying links used in the combined data.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce D. Meyer & Nikolas Mittag, 2019. "Combining Administrative and Survey Data to Improve Income Measurement," NBER Working Papers 25738, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25738
    Note: AG CH LS PE
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w25738.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul Niehaus & Sandip Sukhtankar, 2013. "Corruption Dynamics: The Golden Goose Effect," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 5(4), pages 230-269, November.
    2. Bruce D. Meyer & Nikolas Mittag, 2019. "Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data to Better Measure Income: Implications for Poverty, Program Effectiveness, and Holes in the Safety Net," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 176-204, April.
    3. Lillard, Lee & Smith, James P & Welch, Finis, 1986. "What Do We Really Know about Wages? The Importance of Nonreporting and Census Imputation," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 94(3), pages 489-506, June.
    4. Bruce D. Meyer & Nikolas Mittag, 2015. "Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data to Better Measure Income: Implications for Poverty, Program Effectiveness and Holes in the Safety Net," Upjohn Working Papers 15-242, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    5. Bound, John & Krueger, Alan B, 1991. "The Extent of Measurement Error in Longitudinal Earnings Data: Do Two Wrongs Make a Right?," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 9(1), pages 1-24, January.
    6. Bruce Meyer & Robert Goerge, 2011. "Errors in Survey Reporting and Imputation and Their Effects on Estimates of Food Stamp Program Participation," Working Papers 11-14, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    7. Hausman, J. A. & Abrevaya, Jason & Scott-Morton, F. M., 1998. "Misclassification of the dependent variable in a discrete-response setting," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 239-269, September.
    8. Barry T. Hirsch & Edward J. Schumacher, 2004. "Match Bias in Wage Gap Estimates Due to Earnings Imputation," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 22(3), pages 689-722, July.
    9. C. Adam Bee & Joshua Mitchell, 2017. "The Hidden Resources of Women Working Longer: Evidence from Linked Survey-Administrative Data," NBER Chapters, in: Women Working Longer: Increased Employment at Older Ages, pages 269-296, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 2007. "Inverse probability weighted estimation for general missing data problems," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 1281-1301, December.
    11. Arie Kapteyn & Jelmer Y. Ypma, 2007. "Measurement Error and Misclassification: A Comparison of Survey and Administrative Data," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 25(3), pages 513-551.
    12. Black, Dan & Sanders, Seth & Taylor, Lowell, 2003. "Measurement of Higher Education in the Census and Current Population Survey," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 98, pages 545-554, January.
    13. Bollinger, Christopher R & David, Martin H, 2001. "Estimation with Response Error and Nonresponse: Food-Stamp Participation in the SIPP," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 19(2), pages 129-141, April.
    14. Meyer, Bruce D. & Mittag, Nikolas & Goerge, Robert M., 2018. "Errors in Survey Reporting and Imputation and Their Effects on Estimates of Food Stamp Program Participation," IZA Discussion Papers 11776, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Matthew Blackwell & James Honaker & Gary King, 2017. "A Unified Approach to Measurement Error and Missing Data: Details and Extensions," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 46(3), pages 342-369, August.
    16. repec:taf:jnlbes:v:30:y:2012:i:2:p:191-201 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Damião Nóbrega Da Silva & Chris Skinner & Jae Kwang Kim, 2016. "Using Binary Paradata to Correct for Measurement Error in Survey Data Analysis," Journal of the American Statistical Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 111(514), pages 526-537, April.
    18. Bollinger, Christopher R, 1998. "Measurement Error in the Current Population Survey: A Nonparametric Look," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 16(3), pages 576-594, July.
    19. Da Silva, Damião Nóbrega & Skinner, Chris J. & Kim, Jae Kwang, 2016. "Using binary paradata to correct for measurement error in survey data analysis," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 64763, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    20. Matthew Blackwell & James Honaker & Gary King, 2017. "A Unified Approach to Measurement Error and Missing Data: Overview and Applications," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 46(3), pages 303-341, August.
    21. Nikolas Mittag, 2019. "Correcting for Misreporting of Government Benefits," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 142-164, May.
    22. D. L. Oberski & A. Kirchner & S. Eckman & F. Kreuter, 2017. "Evaluating the Quality of Survey and Administrative Data with Generalized Multitrait-Multimethod Models," Journal of the American Statistical Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 112(520), pages 1477-1489, October.
    23. Molly Dahl & Thomas DeLeire & Jonathan A. Schwabish, 2011. "Estimates of Year-to-Year Volatility in Earnings and in Household Incomes from Administrative, Survey, and Matched Data," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 46(4), pages 750-774.
    24. Quentin Brummet & Denise Flanagan-Doyle & Joshua Mitchell & John Voorheis & Laura Erhard & Brett McBride, 2018. "Investigating the Use of Administrative Records in the Consumer Expenditure Survey," CARRA Working Papers 2018-01, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    25. Rebecca R. Andridge & Roderick J. A. Little, 2010. "A Review of Hot Deck Imputation for Survey Non‐response," International Statistical Review, International Statistical Institute, vol. 78(1), pages 40-64, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Illenin Kondo & Kevin Rinz & Natalie Gubbay & Brandon Hawkins & John Voorheis & Abigail Wozniak, 2024. "Granular Income Inequality and Mobility Using IDDA: Exploring Patterns across Race and Ethnicity," NBER Chapters, in: Race, Ethnicity, and Economic Statistics for the 21st Century, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Christian Awuku-Budu & Dirk van Duym, 2022. "Developing Statistics on the Distribution of State Personal Income: Methodology and Preliminary Results," BEA Working Papers 0197, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
    3. Dennis Fixler & Marina Gindelsky & David Johnson, 2020. "Measuring Inequality in the National Accounts," BEA Working Papers 0175, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
    4. Korenman, Sanders & Remler, Dahlia K. & Hyson, Rosemary T., 2021. "Health insurance and poverty of the older population in the United States: The importance of a health inclusive poverty measure," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
    5. Nora Lustig, 2019. "The “Missing Rich” in Household Surveys: Causes and Correction Approaches," Commitment to Equity (CEQ) Working Paper Series 75, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    6. Nora Lustig, 2020. "The ``missing rich'' in household surveys: causes and correction approaches," Working Papers 520, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Meyer, Bruce D. & Mittag, Nikolas, 2019. "Combining Administrative and Survey Data to Improve Income Measurement," IZA Discussion Papers 12266, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Meyer, Bruce D. & Mittag, Nikolas, 2017. "Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data to Better Measure Income: Implications for Poverty, Program Effectiveness and Holes in the Safety Net," IZA Discussion Papers 10943, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Bruce Meyer & Nikolas Mittag, 2017. "Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data to Better Measure Income: Implications for Poverty, Program Effectiveness and Holes in the Safety Net," Working Papers 2017-075, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    4. Bruce D. Meyer & Nikolas Mittag & Derek Wu, 2024. "Race, Ethnicity, and Measurement Error," NBER Chapters, in: Race, Ethnicity, and Economic Statistics for the 21st Century, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Mittag, Nikolas, 2016. "Correcting for Misreporting of Government Benefits," IZA Discussion Papers 10266, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Bruce D. Meyer & Nikolas Mittag, 2015. "Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data to Better Measure Income: Implications for Poverty, Program Effectiveness and Holes in the Safety Net," NBER Working Papers 21676, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Meyer, Bruce D. & Mittag, Nikolas, 2019. "An Empirical Total Survey Error Decomposition Using Data Combination," IZA Discussion Papers 12151, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Bollinger, Christopher R. & Hirsch, Barry & Hokayem, Charles M. & Ziliak, James P., 2018. "Trouble in the Tails? What We Know about Earnings Nonresponse Thirty Years after Lillard, Smith, and Welch," IZA Discussion Papers 11710, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. James P. Ziliak & Charles Hokayem & Christopher R. Bollinger, 2022. "Trends in Earnings Volatility Using Linked Administrative and Survey Data," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(1), pages 12-19, December.
    10. James X. Sullivan, 2020. "A Cautionary Tale of Using Data From the Tail," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(6), pages 2361-2368, December.
    11. Celhay, Pablo & Meyer, Bruce D. & Mittag, Nikolas, 2024. "What leads to measurement errors? Evidence from reports of program participation in three surveys," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 238(2).
    12. Bruce D. Meyer & Nikolas Mittag, 2019. "An Empirical Total Survey Error Decomposition Using Data Combination," NBER Working Papers 25737, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Michele Lalla & Maddalena Cavicchioli, 2020. "Nonresponse and measurement errors in income: matching individual survey data with administrative tax data," Department of Economics 0170, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    14. Meyer, Bruce D. & Mittag, Nikolas & Wu, Derek, 2024. "Race, Ethnicity, and Measurement Error," IZA Discussion Papers 17349, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Ha Trong Nguyen & Huong Thu Le & Luke Connelly & Francis Mitrou, 2023. "Accuracy of self‐reported private health insurance coverage," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(12), pages 2709-2729, December.
    16. Adam Bee & Joshua Mitchell & Nikolas Mittag & Jonathan Rothbaum & Carl Sanders & Lawrence Schmidt & Matthew Unrath, 2023. "National Experimental Wellbeing Statistics - Version 1," Working Papers 23-04, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    17. Bruce D. Meyer & Derek Wu, 2018. "The Poverty Reduction of Social Security and Means-Tested Transfers," NBER Working Papers 24567, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    18. Meyer, Bruce D. & Mittag, Nikolas, 2018. "Misreporting of Government Transfers: How Important Are Survey Design and Geography?," IZA Discussion Papers 12038, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    19. Vitor Possebom, 2021. "Crime and Mismeasured Punishment: Marginal Treatment Effect with Misclassification," Papers 2106.00536, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2023.
    20. Celhay, Pablo & Meyer, Bruce D. & Mittag, Nikolas, 2022. "What Leads to Measurement Errors? Evidence from Reports of Program Participation in Three Surveys," IZA Discussion Papers 14995, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    More about this item

    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
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25738. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: the person in charge (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/nberrus.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.