Current population survey, 1999: annual demographic file (ICPSR 2825)

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Part 2: Study Description
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Document Description

Citation

Title:

Current population survey, 1999: annual demographic file

Identification Number:

2825

Authoring Entity:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Producer:

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

Copyright:

Copyright ICPSR, 2000

Date of Production:

March 20, 2000

Software used in Production:

SoftQuad XMetaL

Funding Agency/Sponsor:

National Science Foundation

Grant Number:

SBR-9617813

Distributor:

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

Date of Distribution:

March 20, 2000

Version:

ICPSR XML version

Version Responsibility:

Sanda Ionescu

Bibliographic Citation:

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Current population survey, 1999: annual demographic file [codebook file]. ICPSR XML version. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [producer and distributor], 2000.

Holdings Information:

http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/DDI/SAMPLES/02825.xml

Documentation Source

Title:

Current population survey, 1999: annual demographic file

Identification Number:

2825

Authoring Entity:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Producer:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Date of Production:

1999

Distributor:

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

Date of Distribution:

October 1999

Version:

First ICPSR release

Bibliographic Citation:

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Current Population Survey, 1999: Annual Demographic File [computer file]. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept of Commerce, Bureau of the Census [producer], 1999. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1999.

Study Description

Citation

Title:

Current population survey, 1999: annual demographic file

Identification Number:

2825

Authoring Entity:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Producer:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Date of Production:

1999

Distributor:

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

Date of Distribution:

October 1999

Version:

First ICPSR release

Bibliographic Citation:

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Current Population Survey, 1999: Annual Demographic File [computer file]. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept of Commerce, Bureau of the Census [producer], 1999. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1999.

Study Scope

Abstract:

This data collection supplies standard monthly labor force data as well as supplemental data on work experience, income, noncash benefits, and migration. Comprehensive information is given on the employment status, occupation, and industry of persons 15 years old and older. Additional data are available concerning weeks worked and hours per week worked, reason not working full- time, total income and income components, and residence on March 1, 1999. This file also contains data covering noncash income sources such as food stamps, school lunch programs, employer- provided group health insurance plans, employer- provided pension plans, personal health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, CHAMPUS or military health care, and energy assistance. Information on demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, race, household relationships, and Hispanic origin, is available for each person in the household enumerated.

Universe:

Civilian noninstitutional population of the United States living in housing units and members of the Armed Forces living in civilian housing units on a military base or in households not on a military base.

Methodology and Processing

Sampling Procedure:

A national probability sample was used in selecting housing units. About 60,000 housing units were contacted, with an additional 3,500 Hispanic households added to the March survey sample. The sample was located in 792 sample areas comprising 2,007 counties and independent cities with coverage in every state and the District of Columbia.

Data Access

Location:

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

Extent of Collection:

1 data file + machine-readable documentation (PDF)+ database dictionary

Number of Files:

3

Notes:

(1) In this hierarchical dataset there are three record types. The first record type is Household, with 124 variables for 65,337 records. The Family record type has 76 variables for 57,325 records, and Person records have 430 variables for 132,324 records. There is a total of 255,026 records in the file. (2) The codebook is provided as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. The PDF file format was developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated and can be accessed using PDF reader software, such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Information on how to obtain a copy of the Acrobat Reader is provided through the ICPSR Website on the Internet.

Citation Requirement:

Publications based on ICPSR data collections should acknowledge those sources by means of bibliographic citations. To ensure that such source attributions are captured for social science bibliographic utilities, citations must appear in footnotes or in the reference section of publications. The bibliographic citation for this data collection is: U. S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY, 1999: ANNUAL DEMOGRAPHIC FILE [Computer file]. Washington, DC: U. S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census [producer], 1999. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1999.

Deposit Requirement:

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON USE OF ICPSR RESOURCES: To provide funding agencies with essential information about use of archival resources and to facilitate the exchange of information about ICPSR participants' research activities, users of ICPSR data are requested to send to ICPSR bibliographic citations for each completed manuscript or thesis abstract. Please indicate in a cover letter which data were used.

Disclaimer:

DATA DISCLAIMER: The original collector of the data, ICPSR, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for uses of this collection or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.

Study Description

Citation

Title:

Current population survey, 1999: annual demographic file

Authoring Entity:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Producer:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Date of Production:

1999

Distributor:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Date of Distribution:

1999

Version:

First Bureau of the Census release

Bibliographic Citation:

Current Population Survey, March 1999 [machine readable data file] / conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Washington: Bureau of the Census [producer and distributor], 1999.

Study Scope

Abstract:

The Current Population Survey (CPS) is the source of the official Government statistics on employment and unemployment. The CPS has been conducted monthly for over 50 years. Currently, we interview about 47,000 households monthly, scientifically selected on the basis of area of residence to represent the Nation as a whole, individual States, and other specified areas. Each household is interviewed once a month for four consecutive months one year, and again for the corresponding time period a year later. This technique enables us to obtain month- to- month and year- to- year comparisons at a reasonable cost while minimizing the inconvenience to any one household. Although the main purpose of the survey is to collect information on the employment situation, a very important secondary purpose is to collect information on the demographic status of the population, information such as age, sex, race, marital status, educational attainment, and family structure. From time to time additional questions are included on such important subjects as health, education, income, and previous work experience. The statistics resulting from these questions serve to update similar information collected once every 10 years through the decennial census, and are used by Government policymakers and legislators as important indicators of our Nation's economic situation and for planning and evaluating many Government programs. The CPS provides current estimates of the economic status and activities of the population of the United States. Because it is not possible to develop one or two overall figures (such as the number of unemployed) that would adequately describe the labor market, the CPS is designed to provide a large amount of detailed and supplementary data. Such data are made available to meet a wide variety of needs on the part of users of labor market information. Thus, the CPS is the only source of monthly estimates of total employment (both farm and nonfarm); nonfarm self- employed persons, domestics, and unpaid workers in nonfarm family enterprises; wage and salary employees; and, finally, estimates of total unemployment. It provides the only available distribution of workers by the number of hours worked (as distinguished from aggregate or average hours for an industry), permitting separate analyses of part- time workers, workers on overtime, etc. The survey is also the only comprehensive current source of information on the occupation of workers and the industries in which they work. Information is available from the survey not only for persons currently in the labor force but also for those who are outside the labor force. The characteristics of such persons, whether married women with or without young children, disabled persons, students, older retired workers, etc., can be determined. Information on their current desire for work, their past work experience, and their intentions for job seeking are also available. The March CPS, also known as the Annual Demographic File, contains the basic monthly demographic and labor force data described above, plus additional data on work experience, income, noncash benefits, and migration.

Time Period:

March 1999March 1998-March 1999

Date of Collection:

March 1999

Country:

United States of America

Geographic Coverage:

States, regions and divisions are identified in their entirety. Within confidentiality restrictions, indicators are provided for consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSA), 173 selected metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), 69 selected primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSA), 217 counties, and 41 central cities in multicentral city metropolitan statistical areas or primary metropolitan stastistical areas. Also within confidentiality restrictions, indicators are provided for metropolitan/nonmetropolitan, central city/balance metropolitan, MSA/CMSA size and MSA/PMSA size.

Unit of Analysis:

Individuals

Unit of Analysis:

families

Unit of Analysis:

households

Universe:

The universe is the civilian noninstitutional population of the United States living in housing units and members of the Armed Forces living in civilian housing units on a military base or in households not on a military base.

Kind of Data:

survey data

Methodology and Processing

Time Method:

cross-section

Data Collector:

United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Sampling Procedure:

A probability sample is used in selecting housing units. The CPS sample is based on the civilian noninstitutional population of the United States. The sample is located in 792 sample areas comprising 2,007 counties and independent cities with coverage in every state and in the District of Columbia.  (link) In March of each year supplemental data are collected for Armed Forces members residing with their families in civilian housing units or on a military base. The Armed Forces members, however, are not asked the monthly labor force questions. In addition, the March CPS is supplemented with a sample of Hispanic households identified the previous November. This results in the addition of about 3,500 households (3,000 interviewed) in the March CPS. The inclusion of the additional sample of Hispanic households began in 1976.  (link)

Mode of Data Collection:

face-to-face interviews

Mode of Data Collection:

telephone interviews

Type of Research Instrument:

structured

Weighting:

For all CPS data files a single weight is prepared and used to compute the monthly labor force status estimates. An additional weight was prepared for the earnings universe which roughly corresponds to wage and salary workers in the two outgoing rotations. This is explained below in the section on earnings data. However, the difference in content of the March CPS supplement requires the presentation of additional weights: a household weight, a family weight, and a March supplement weight. In this section we briefly describe the construction and use of these weights.  (link) The final weight, which is the product of several adjustments, is used to produce population estimates for the various items covered in the regular monthly CPS. This weight is constructed from the basic weight for each person, which represents the probability of selection for the survey. The basic weight is adjusted for special sampling situations and failure to obtain interviews from eligible households (noninterview adjustment). A two- stage ratio estimation procedure adjusts the sample population to the known distribution of the entire population. This two- stage ratio estimation process produces factors which are applied to the basic weight (after the special weighting and noninterview adjustments are made) and results in the final weight associated with each record. In summary, the final weight is the product of: (1) the basic weight, (2) adjustments for special weighting, (3) noninterview adjustment, (4) first stage ratio adjustment factor, and (5) second stage ratio adjustment factor. This final weight should be used when producing estimates from the basic CPS data. Differences in the questionnaire, sample and data uses for the March CPS supplement result in the need for additional adjustment procedures to produce what is called the March supplement weight. The sample for the March CPS supplement is expanded to include male members of the Armed Forces who are living in civilian housing or with the family on a military base, as well as additional Hispanic households which are not included in the monthly labor force estimates. The expanded sample and the need to have a husband and wife receive the same weight has resulted in a weighting system which produces the March supplement weight. The March supplement weight should be used for producing estimates from March supplement data. Finally, household and family weights are the weights assigned from the householder or reference person after all adjustments have been made and should be used when tabulating estimates of families-households. Earnings data: Beginning in 1982, usual hourly and weekly earnings data appear on the Annual Demographic File (ADF) for that portion of the population roughly corresponding to wage and salary workers (self- employed persons in incorporated businesses are excluded, although they are normally included with the wage and salary population). These data are now collected on a monthly basis in the two outgoing rotation groups as part of the basic CPS labor force interview. Since the intent of the regular collection of earnings data was to initiate a family earnings data series, all persons in the two outgoing rotations receive an "earnings weight," even if they are not eligible for the earnings item. The earnings weight is a simple ratio-estimation to the person's labor force status by age, race and sex. When tabulating estimates of earnings based on basic CPS data, use the earnings weight.  (link) For 1982 and 1983, usual weekly earnings are not present for individuals who are not paid on an hourly basis.

Notes:

Revisions to the March CPS processing system: Between 1988 and 1989 a new computer processing system was introduced for the March Current Population Survey. This processing system rewrite was long overdue; the system in use before this year was first introduced in March 1976 and was never fully updated to reflect the numerous questionnaire changes that had taken place since that time. In addition, the programs used to process the CPS file were written in a computer language that is being phased out of use at the Census Bureau. While the March 1989 file is the first to reflect this new processing system, the March 1988 file was reprocessed based on these new procedures in order to: 1) better evaluate the new processing procedures, and 2) allow year-to-year comparisons to be made between income years 1987 and 1988 using a consistent processing system. While the following section deals mainly with modifications to the March imputation procedures and their subsequent effect on income and poverty rates, it should be pointed out that all of the processing programs were rewritten in 1989, so that not only are the files from 1989 forward based on a somewhat different imputation system, but also reflect a rewritten weighting system, data acceptance program, family relationship edits, and new procedures to match income supplement records to the monthly CPS file. As a result, it is difficult to ascertain whether differences (especially those based on relatively small bases) are the result of imputation or other processing differences between the original and revised files. Since the Census Bureau began imputing the missing income data on the CPS in 1962, there have been three major revisions to the processing system (in 1967, 1976 and 1988). Through all of these revisions, the basic strategy used in making imputations has remained the same. This approach, commonly referred to as "hot deck" imputation, assigns missing responses to sample persons with information from matched sample persons with similar demographic and economic information who answered these questions. Under the new March processing system, there were three main modifications to the income imputation programs: (1) The edits and imputations were expanded to reflect the full detail of the March income questionnaire. The original processing system was still based on a less detailed CPS income questionnaire that had not been in use since 1980. (2) Under the revised processing procedures, entire sets of March income and noncash benefits data were imputed to supplement noninterviews from the same interviewed person. Under the original processing procedures, earnings, unearned income, and noncash benefits were imputed in separate stages during the processing system. Thus, the new processing system imputes noninterviews more efficiently and is better able to preserve the correlation between earnings, unearned income, and noncash benefits. (3) Both the old and new processing systems employ what are called "statistical matches" to link sample cases with reported data to those requiring imputation for missing responses. In the original processing system, under certain circumstances, reported data were removed and replaced with imputed data during the statistical matching process. Under the new system, reported data are never removed. This was accomplished by expanding the number of statistical matches in the income imputation system.

Response Rate:

In all, some 60,000 housing units or other living quarters are assigned for interview each month; about 47,000 of them containing approximately 94,000 persons 15 years old and over are interviewed. The remainder of the assigned housing units are found to be vacant, converted to nonresidential use, contain persons with residence elsewhere, or are not interviewed because the residents are not found at home after repeated calls, are temporarily absent, or are unavailable for other reasons. Approximately 12,000 noninterview households are present each month. The resulting file size is approximately 136,000 records. Of the approximately 3,500 Hispanic households added in the March CPS, 3,000 are interviewed.

Other Forms of Data Appraisal:

One set of estimates that can be produced from CPS microdata files should be treated with caution. These are estimates for individual metropolitan areas. Although estimates for the larger areas such as New York, Los Angeles, and so forth, should be fairly accurate and valid for a multitude of uses, estimates for the smaller metropolitan areas (those with populations under 500.000) should be used with caution because of the relatively large sampling variability associated with these estimates. For these areas, estimates comparing percent distributions and ratios will provide data with less sampling variability than estimates of levels will. It should be kept in mind that the sample design and methods of weighting CPS data are geared towards producing estimates for the entire nation. Consequently, data for states are not as reliable as national data, and the file will lose some of its utility in certain applications. For further discussion of such considerations, the user should consult "The Current Population Survey: Design and Methodology"  (link) The nature of the work done by each individual investigator using the microdata file will determine to what extent his/her requirements for precision will allow using some of the smaller geographic areas identified on the file.

Data Access

Location:

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

Location:

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census  (link)

Extent of Collection:

1 data file + 1 machine- readable documentation (PDF) + 1 database dictionary

Number of Files:

3

Notes:

The files may be ordered from Marketing Services Office, Customer Services Center, using the order form on the following page. They are available on recordable CD-ROM or computer tape; ASCII or EBCDIC, and standard ANSI labeling. The file also will be available on CD-ROM and the INTERNET through the FERRET System by clicking on Access Tools from the Census Bureau's Home Page at http://www.census.gov or through the CPS main page at http://www.bls.census.gov

Other Study Description Materials

Related Materials

Current Population Survey, March 1999: Technical Documentation includes an abstract, pertinent information about the file, a glossary, code lists and a data dictionary. One copy accompanies each file order. When ordered separately, it is available from Marketing Services Office, Customer Service Center, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233

A more precise explanation regarding the CPS sample design is provided in Technical Paper 40, The Current Population Survey: Design and Methodology. Chapter 5 of this paper provides documentation on the weighting procedures for the CPS both with and without supplement questions.

For a more detailed discussion about the basic labor force data gathered on a monthly basis in the CPS survey, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics Report No. 463 and the Current Population Report P-23, No. 62, issued jointly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of the Census in October 1976, and entitled Concepts and Methods used in Labor Statistics derived from the Current Population Survey.

Further information on this earnings series is contained in Technical Description of the Quarterly Data on Weekly Earnings from the Current Population Survey, BLS Report #601, July 1980. This report is available on request from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington D.C. 20212. Attn: Office of Inquiries and Correspondence.

Related Studies

A public use edition of the Current Population Survey, March file is available for 1976, 1978, and 1979. For 1980, 1984, and 1988 two March files are available for each year. The first March 1980 file contains estimates based on 1970 population counts and should be used for historical comparisons ending in 1980. The reweighted March 1980 file contains estimates based on results of the 1980 census and should be used for comparisons between 1981 and 1984. In 1984, the Bureau of the Census introduced a step into the March second stage weighting procedure to control individual weights to independent estimates of the Hispanic population. Since this introduction caused a major disruption in the Hispanic estimates from March two data files were created. The first file, without the Hispanic controls should be used for comparing estimates for years prior to 1984 and the second file should be used for comparison with 1985 and later files. From March 1989 forward, data on the Annual Demographic File are processed using the rewrite system. The rewrite system includes revised procedures to match supplement records to basic CPS records; revised weighting procedures; revised demographic and family edits; revised imputation procedures; and more income detail on the file. For March 1988 there are two files, the regular Annual Demographic File and the Annual Demographic Rewrite File. The rewrite file has been prepared to allow historical comparison of data from the rewrite processing system implemented between 1988 and 1989. It is recommended that the rewrite file be used when comparing data collected from the March Annual Demographic Supplement from 1988 forward. Use the regular file, released in 1988, when comparing data from 1988 and prior years. This is not to say, however, that comparisons cannot be made between years before and after 1988. When such analyses are done, for example between 1986 through 1989, data users must consider that similarities or differences between the data may be caused or effected by the rewritten system. Thus, comparing estimates from the 1988 rewrite files and the 1988 regular file will reveal the extent of any differences caused by the processing system changes though not the specific change. The magnitude of the difference can then be applied to the estimates from 1986 and 1989 to reveal whether any real differences exist. There were several revisions made to the processing programs; therefore, it is difficult to determine which specific revision effected the differences or similarities in the data. Some non- March data also are available from 1968 to present. For more information, request the Data Developments on the Current Population Survey from Marketing Services Office, Customer Services Center, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233. Data Developments also are available on the INTERNET by clicking on Subjects A- Z from the Census Bureau’s Home Page at http:// www. census. gov

Related Publications

Data from the March Current Population Survey are published most frequently in the Current Population Reports P- 20 and P- 60 series. These reports are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. They also are available on the INTERNET at http:// www. census. gov. Forthcoming reports will be cited in Census and You, the Monthly Product Announcement (MPA), and the Bureau of the Census Catalog and Guide.

Each month, a significant amount of information about the labor force is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Employment and Earnings and Monthly Labor Review Reports. As mentioned previously, the CPS also serves as a vehicle for supplemental inquiries on subjects other than employment which are periodically added to the questionnaire. From the basic and supplemental data the Bureau of the Census issues four series of publications under the general title Current Population Reports: P- 20 Population Characteristics, P- 23 Special Studies, P- 27 Farm Population, P- 60 Consumer Income. Of particular interest to users of the March microdata file would be those reports based on information collected in March. These reports include the following titles: P- 20 Population Profile of the United States:(Year); P- 20 Household and Family Characteristics: March (Year); P- 20 Households, Families, Marital Status, and Living Arrangements: March (Year); P- 20 Geographical Mobility (Years) ; P- 20 Educational Attainment in the United States (Years); P- 20 Persons of Hispanic Origin in the United States (Year); P- 60 Money Income and Poverty Status of Families and Persons in the United States: (Year); P- 60 Characteristics of the Population Below the Poverty Level: (Year); P- 60 Characteristics of Households Receiving Selected Noncash Benefits: (Year). All Current Population Reports may be obtained by subscription from the U. S. Government Printing Office. Subscriptions are available as follows: Population Characteristics, Special Studies, Farm Population, and Consumer Income series (P- 20, P-23, P- 27, P- 60) combined, $71 per year (sold as a package only); Population Estimates and Projections (P- 25), $25 per year. Single issues may be ordered separately; ordering information and prices are in the Bureau of the Census Catalog and Guide, in Census and You, and the Monthly Product Announcement (MPA).

File Description

File: Current Population Survey, 1999: Annual Demographic File

  • Contents of Files: This file, also known as the Annual Demographic File,provides the usual monthly labor force data, but in addition, provides supplemental data on work experience, income, noncash benefits, and migration. Comprehensive work experience information is given on the employment status, occupation, and industry of persons 15 years old and over. Additional data for persons 15 years old and older are available concerning weeks worked and hours per week worked, reason not working full-time, total income and income components, and residence on March 1, 1999. Data on employment and income refer to the preceding year, although demographic data refer to the time of the survey. This file also contains data covering nine noncash income sources such as food stamps, school lunch programs, employer-provided group health insurance plans, employer-provided pension plans, personal health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, CHAMPUS or military health care, and energy assistance. Characteristics such as age, sex, race, household relationship, and Hispanic origin are shown for each person in the household enumerated.

  • File Structure: hierarchical

  • Record Group

  • Record Group

  • Record Group

    • Label: Person  (link)

    • No. of variables per record: 430

    • Number of cases: 132,324

    • Logical Record Length: 852

  • Notes: There is a household record for each household or group quarters. The household record is followed by one of three possible structures: A. If the household contains related persons and is not a group quarters household: 1. The family record appears next followed by person records for members of the family who are not also members of a related subfamily. The person records would be ordered: family householder, spouse of family householder, children in the family, and other relatives of the family householder. 2. The above records may be followed by one or more related subfamily records, each related subfamily record being followed immediately by person records for members of that related subfamily. The person records would be ordered: reference person of the related subfamily, spouse of subfamily reference person, and children of subfamily reference person. 3. The above records may be followed by one or more unrelated subfamily records, each unrelated subfamily record being followed immediately by person records for members of that unrelated subfamily. The person records would be ordered: unrelated subfamily reference person, spouse of subfamily reference person, and children of subfamily reference person. 4. The above records may be followed by one or more persons living with householder is followed immediately by the person record for that nonfamily householder. 2. These records may be followed by one or more unrelated subfamily records, each unrelated subfamily record being followed immediately by the person records for members of that unrelated subfamily. 3. These records may be followed by one or more family records for persons living with nonrelatives, each person living with nonrelatives family record being followed immediately by the person record for that person living with nonrelatives. (See Figure 2, page 2- 6.) C. If the household is a group quarters, each person is defined as a person living with nonrelatives. There will be a family record followed by a person record for each person in the group quarters. File sort sequence: Census state code (HG-ST60) then MSA/PMSA code (HG-MSAC)
  • Data Format: logical record length

  • Place of File Production: Washington, DC: United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Notes:

MATCHING OF MARCH CPS FILES: There are two basic limitations in linking the March CPS files across years. First, only fifty percent of the sample is included in two consecutive years. Second, the residents within the eligible housing units may have changed or appeared as noninterview records in one or both years. The result is a matched sample of considerably less than the upper limit of fifty percent. The basic procedures and variables used to link two or more March CPS files are outlined below. Sample Selection: The first step in matching year t with year t+ 1 is to select from year t those housing units with a "month in sample" value of 1 through 4, and from year t+ 1 those units with a "month in sample" value of 5 through 8. This will identify the sample subset eligible for matching. Within this subset, housing units in year t, month 1 will match only with units in year t+ 1, month 5, etc. Matching Housing Units: Using one or more variables, it is possible to uniquely identify each housing unit in each sample rotation. However, because of changes in CPS procedures, the available information for matching housing units is not always identical. Below are the variables available for matching March CPS files.

Years

1968-1971

Variables

Random Cluster Code (F6- 10) and Serial Number (F11- 14)

Years

1971-1972

Changes in CPS clustering procedures and the accompanying change of household identification numbers prevent matching 1971 and 1972 March CPS files.

Years

1972-1973

The 1972 file uses 1960 random cluster codes while the 1973 file uses 1970 random cluster codes, thus precluding the matching of records.

Years

1973-1975

Variables

Random Cluster Code (F7- 11). Segment Number (F12- 16), and Serial Number (F217- 218)

Years

1975-1976

Variables

1975: Random Cluster Code (F7- 11) Segment Number (F12- 16), and Serial Number (F217- 218)

1976: Random Cluster Code (H35- 39), Segment Number (H40- 43), and Serial Number (H44- 45)

Years

1976-1977

Matching is not possible because variables required for matching are in a different format each year.

Years

1977-1985

Variable

Household identification number (H18-29)

Years

1985-1986

Matching is not possible because the 1986 file is based entirely on the 1980 census design sample

Years

1986-1993

Variable

Household identification number (H18-29)

Years

1994-1995

(See CPS, March 1995 User Note 1.)

Years

1995-1996

Matching is not possible because the March 1996 file is based entirely on the 1990 Census design sample.

Years

1996-1999

Variable

Household Identification Number (H344- 358)

Matching Households, Families, and Persons: Although the information presented above allows matching of housing units across years, it is possible that the residents of the housing unit have changed. Consequently, it is necessary to perform additional matches to insure resident comparability. The specific variables used to match residents will vary according to the needs of the project but it is more efficient to arrange the matching in a hierarchical sequence. For example, matching on sex, race and line number should precede matching on age or household relationship. The user should carefully work through the possible changes in household structure that might result in an inappropriate rejection of a household. For example, a husband- wife family in year t that experienced a divorce and became a female headed household in year t+ 1 would fail the test for matching sex of head. Clearly, the more criteria used in matching records will result in greater accuracy, but will also increase the expense and result in fewer matches. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MARCH 1998 AND MARCH 1999 ANNUAL DEMOGRAPHIC FILES : 1. Item description change: the item PEINUSYR (location 731 on the person's record) has a revised description of value = 15. This value stands for 1996-1999. 2. New (revised) items: starting this year, topcoding was required for all non-earnings income fields that were not government program related. Section 3 lists the income sources and the revised topcodes. There are 14 allocation flags new to this year's person record, reflecting any topcoding to its corresponding income source field. The new flags, in columns 837-849 are: TSURVAL1, TSURVAL2, TDISVAL1, TDISVAL2, TRETVAL1, TRETVAL2, TINT-VAL, TDIV-VAL, TRNT-VAL, TED-VAL, TCSP-VAL, TALM-VAL, and TFIN-VAL. The flag TOI-VAL is in column 578. Item H-YEAR, year of survey, has changed in location and in size. It is now located in column 14 of the household record, and occupies 4 columns instead of only one. 3. New income topcodes: This year, topcoding was required for all non-earnings income fields that were not government program related. The table below lists the topcodes applied to each of these 14 income fields newly subject to topcoding. The values subject to topcoding were replaced with the average amount across all topcoded values for that income source. These replacement averages are also listed.

Income source

Topcode

Average

SUR-VAL1

$50,000

$89,007

SUR-VAL2

50,000

89,007

DIS-VAL1

35,000

55,328

DIS-VAL2

35,000

54,857

RET-VAL1

45,000

62,277

RET-VAL2

45,000

49,551

INT-VAL

35,000

60,819

DIV-VAL

15,000

36,877

RNT-VAL

25,000

57,453

ED-VAL

20,000

27,810

CSP-VAL

15,000

26,592

ALM-VAL

50,000

93,114

FIN-VAL

30,000

40,717

OI-VAL

25,000

44,265

The data after topcoding were used to create all combined income recodes on the file. 4. Revised topcodes: As was the case in previous years, the four basic earnings items were subject to topcoding again this year. The same topcodes as used in 1998 were used again (see the chart #1 below). We also replaced all topcoded values with the average amount across all topcoded records. Chart #2 below provides these average amounts for the 12 socioeconomic cells within which we computed these averages. Cells with a --- did not have any topcoded records. Cells with an * did not contain at least 5 topcoded records and were collapsed together.
Chart #1 - Topcode amounts for earnings fields

Field

Topcode

ERN-VAL

$150,000

WS-VAL

25,000

SE-VAL

40,000

FRM-VAL

25,000

Chart #2: Average (replacement) values for earnings fields

Cell

ERN-VAL

WS-VAL

SE-VAL

FRM-VAL

M,NBH,FTYR

$306,731

$59,925

$123,543

$65,337

M,NBH,OTH

348,516

50,406

103,545*

44,558*

M,B,FTYR

266,303

51,139

---

---

M,B,OTH

---

---

---

---

M,H,FTYR

419,044

52,678

103,545*

---

M,H,OTH

492,657*

57,828*

103,545*

---

F,NBH,FTYR

402,204

35,583

52,835

44,558*

F,NBH,OTH

390,510

59,301

131,519

44,558*

F,B,FTYR

492,657*

34,826

---

---

F,B,OTH

492,657*

57,828*

---

---

F,H,FTYR

367,181

36,826

---

---

H,OTH

492,657*

36,604

---

---

Cell definition (Key)

Column 1

Sex: M=Male; F=Female

Column 2

Race/Origin: NBH=Not black, not hispanic; B=Black; H=Hispanic

Column 3

Work experience: FTYR=Full year (50+ weeks), Full time (35+ hours per week); OTH=Not full year, full time.

Variable Description

Variable Groups

Household

Variable Groups within Household

Household

Variables within Household

Universe:

Housing units or other living quarters

Edited noncash household items

Variables within Edited noncash household items

Household income recipiency and values

Variable Groups within Household income recipiency and values

Source of income - wages and salaries

Variables within Source of income - wages and salaries

Source of income - self-employment (nonfarm)

Variables within Source of income - self-employment (nonfarm)

Source of income - self-employment (farm)

Variables within Source of income - self-employment (farm)

Source of income - unemployment compensation

Variables within Source of income - unemployment compensation

Source of income - worker's compensation

Variables within Source of income - worker's compensation

Source of income - social security

Variables within Source of income - social security

Source of income - supplemental security

Variables within Source of income - supplemental security

Source of income - public assistance or welfare

Variables within Source of income - public assistance or welfare

Source of income - veterans' benefits

Variables within Source of income - veterans' benefits

Source of income - survivor's income

Variables within Source of income - survivor's income

Source of income - disability

Variables within Source of income - disability

Source of income - retirement income

Variables within Source of income - retirement income

Source of income - interest

Variables within Source of income - interest

Source of income - dividends

Variables within Source of income - dividends

Source of income - rents

Variables within Source of income - rents

Source of income - education

Variables within Source of income - education

Source of income - child support

Variables within Source of income - child support

Source of income - alimony

Variables within Source of income - alimony

Source of income - financial assistance

Variables within Source of income - financial assistance

Source of income - other income

Variables within Source of income - other income

Summary household income recodes

Variables within Summary household income recodes

Edited health insurance

Variables within Edited health insurance

Household recodes

Variables within Household recodes

March supplement household weight

Variables within March supplement household weight

Allocation flags for basic CPS

Variables within Allocation flags for basic CPS

Allocation flags for supplement household items

Variables within Allocation flags for supplement household items

New fields in 1992 from after-tax processing

Variables within New fields in 1992 from after-tax processing

New uncollapsed H-TYPE from new CPS questionnaire

Variables within New uncollapsed H-TYPE from new CPS questionnaire

Family

Variable Groups within Family

Family

Variables within Family

Universe:

Related or unrelated groups of persons or persons living within the same household

Family income recipiency and values

Variable Groups within Family income recipiency and values

Source of income - wages and salaries

Variables within Source of income - wages and salaries

Source of income - self-employment (nonfarm)

Variables within Source of income - self-employment (nonfarm)

Source of income - self-emplyment farm

Variables within Source of income - self-emplyment farm

Source of income - unemployment compensation

Variables within Source of income - unemployment compensation

Source of income - worker's compensation

Variables within Source of income - worker's compensation

Source of income - social security

Variables within Source of income - social security

Source of income - supplemental security

Variables within Source of income - supplemental security

Source of income - public assistance or welfare

Variables within Source of income - public assistance or welfare

Source of income - veterans' benefits

Variables within Source of income - veterans' benefits

Source of income - survivor's income

Variables within Source of income - survivor's income

Source of income - disability

Variables within Source of income - disability

Source of income - retirement income

Variables within Source of income - retirement income

Source of income - interest

Variables within Source of income - interest

Source of income - dividends

Variables within Source of income - dividends

Source of income - rents

Variables within Source of income - rents

Source of income - education

Variables within Source of income - education

Source of income - child support

Variables within Source of income - child support

Source of income - alimony

Variables within Source of income - alimony

Source of income - financial assistance

Variables within Source of income - financial assistance

Source of income - other income

Variables within Source of income - other income

Family summary income values and recodes

Variables within Family summary income values and recodes

March supplement family weight

Variables within March supplement family weight

Family noncash benefit valuation fields new in 1992

Variables within Family noncash benefit valuation fields new in 1992

Person

Variable Groups within Person

Person

Variables within Person

Universe:

Civilian noninstitutional population of the United States and members of the Armed Forces living with their families in civilian housing units or on a military base.

Edited adult control card items

Variables within Edited adult control card items

Person recodes

Variables within Person recodes

Basic CPS weights

Variables within Basic CPS weights

March supplement person weights

Variables within March supplement person weights

Edited labor force items

Variables within Edited labor force items

Edited earnings items

Variables within Edited earnings items

Labor force person recodes

Variables within Labor force person recodes

The following items are from the March Supplement 665 Questionnaire

Variable Groups within The following items are from the March Supplement 665 Questionnaire

Edited work experience items - all persons 15+ years

Variables within Edited work experience items - all persons 15+ years

Work experience recodes

Variables within Work experience recodes

Edited migration items - persons 1+ years

Variables within Edited migration items - persons 1+ years

Edited and allocated income fields - persons 15+ years

Variable Groups within Edited and allocated income fields - persons 15+ years

Edited and allocated income fields - persons 15+ years

Variables within Edited and allocated income fields - persons 15+ years

Source of income - earnings - items 48a through 49b - persons 15+ years

Variables within Source of income - earnings - items 48a through 49b - persons 15+ years

Source of income - unemployment compensation

Variables within Source of income - unemployment compensation

Source of income - worker's compensation

Variables within Source of income - worker's compensation

Source of income - social security income

Variables within Source of income - social security income

Source of income - supplemental security income

Variables within Source of income - supplemental security income

Source of income - public assistance or welfare

Variables within Source of income - public assistance or welfare

Source of income - Veterans' Administration benefits

Variable Groups within Source of income - Veterans' Administration benefits

Source of income - Veterans' Administration benefits

Variables within Source of income - Veterans' Administration benefits

VET-TYP1 through VET-TYP5 - What type of veterans payments did ... receive?

Variables within VET-TYP1 through VET-TYP5 - What type of veterans payments did ... receive?

Source of income - survivor's income

Variables within Source of income - survivor's income

Source of income - disability income

Variables within Source of income - disability income

Source of income - retirement income

Variables within Source of income - retirement income

Source of income - interest income

Variables within Source of income - interest income

Source of income - dividends income

Variables within Source of income - dividends income

Source of income - rent income

Variables within Source of income - rent income

Source of income - education assistance

Variables within Source of income - education assistance

Source of income - child support

Variables within Source of income - child support

Source of income - alimony

Variables within Source of income - alimony

Source of income - financial assistance

Variables within Source of income - financial assistance

Source of income - other income

Variables within Source of income - other income

Summary income values by type

Variables within Summary income values by type

Person recodes

Variables within Person recodes

Edited noncash benefit items - all persons

Variables within Edited noncash benefit items - all persons

Allocation flags for basic CPS edited and allocated items

Variables within Allocation flags for basic CPS edited and allocated items

Allocation flags for March supplement - edited and allocated items

Variables within Allocation flags for March supplement - edited and allocated items