Replication data for: Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data to Better Measure Income: Implications for Poverty, Program Effectiveness, and Holes in the Safety Net

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Bruce D. Meyer; Nikolas Mittag

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data			10/20/2021 03:41:PM
LICENSE.txt	text/plain	14.6 KB	10/12/2019 10:57:AM

Project Citation:

Meyer, Bruce D., and Mittag, Nikolas. Replication data for: Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data to Better Measure Income: Implications for Poverty, Program Effectiveness, and Holes in the Safety Net. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2019. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2019-10-12. https://doi.org/10.3886/E113731V1

Project Description

Summary: We examine the consequences of survey underreporting of transfer programs for prototypical analyses of low-income populations. We link administrative data for four transfer programs to the CPS to correct its severe understatement of transfer dollars received. Using survey data sharply understates the income of poor households, distorts our understanding of program targeting, and greatly understates the effects of anti-poverty programs. Using the combined data, the poverty-reducing effect of all programs together is nearly doubled. The effect of housing assistance is tripled. Correcting survey error often reduces the share of single mothers falling through the safety net by one-half or more.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: Poverty; Measurement Error; Survey Misreporting; Linked Data; Administrative Data; Inequality

JEL Classification:
      C83 Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
      I32 Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
      I38 Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

Geographic Coverage: NY

Time Period(s): 2007 – 2012

Universe: Households in NY State

Data Type(s): survey data; administrative records data

Collection Notes: The linked data is confidential, so the files posted here can unfortunately only include the program files that were used to produce the data and conduct the analyses in the paper.

Methodology

Data Source: CPS data linked to administrative SNAP, public assistance and housing assistance records from NY State.

Unit(s) of Observation: household,

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Published Versions

V1 [2019-10-12]

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