Journal of Economic and Social Measurement - Volume 34, issue 1

Authors: Cristia, Julian | Schwabish, Jonathan A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Validation studies that compare survey to administrative earnings are useful to assess the extent and implications of measurement error in labor market data. While previous work typically used small restrictive samples with topcoded earnings, this paper matches data from the …Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) to Social Security Administration records, which contains uncapped administrative earnings. Results show that SIPP respondents, on average, underreport earnings by a significant amount ($2,800). Consistent with previous studies, measurement error is negatively correlated with true earnings. Finally, unlike previous work, we find a consistent pattern between measurement error and covariates: factors positively associated with earnings are negatively correlated with measurement error. Show more

Keywords: Response error, data quality, measurement error, SIPP

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-2009-0311

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 1-17, 2009

Authors: Klevmarken, N. Anders

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: There is no international consensus about the treatment of the price of housing services in a consumer price index. A number of different approaches, more or less ad hoc, are used in practice. In this paper a semi dynamic model of …consumer behavior that incorporates the demand for housing is specified such that it is consistent with the general purpose of a consumer price index. From this model a true cost-of-living index that includes housing is derived. Being an ideal index it cannot be computed without imposing additional assumptions about the behavior of the consumer, but it is possible to draw conclusions about the prices and weights that should be used in conventional approximations to such an ideal index. It is demonstrated that a price index can be computed that is consistent both with theory and the general purposes of a CPI using conventional approaches and data that are available at most statistical agencies. Show more

Keywords: Price index, cost-of-living index, compensation index, housing price (C43, D91)

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-2009-0312

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 19-33, 2009

Authors: Tokuyama, Chieko | Pillarisetti, J. Ram

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The broad objectives of the Human Development Report (HDR) and the estimates of human wellbeing are to identify policies that reduce poverty, economic and gender inequalities and increase human wellbeing. Since its inception in 1990, the HDR and the methodological …and measurement issues relating to the now well known Human Development Index (HDI) have undergone several transformations. This paper empirically examines the reliability of databases from HDRs with a special focus on the estimations methodology and data revisions of the HDI, and the recent growth trends in the HDI and real income. This paper notes that the databases in the HDRs exhibit significant measurement errors and inadequacies. The measurement errors are more conspicuous in cases of data pertaining to low-income developing countries. Show more

Keywords: Human development index, PPP GDP per capita, low income countries, wellbeing

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-2009-0310

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 35-50, 2009