Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP18640
Authors: Eric J. Bartelsman; Filippo Di Mauro; Sergio Inferrera; Marco Matani; Ugo Panizza; Michael Polder
Abstract: While access to high-quality microdata is essential for economic research and policy evaluation, effective access to such data remains limited in Europe. It varies from country to country, with uneven information on access procedures. This is a major obstacle to social science research, including research on European competitiveness and the effects of climate change, inequality, globalization, and digitalization. The objective of this paper, which is based on a brainstorming exercise coordinated by CEPR and CompNet, is to assess the status quo and discuss a series of proposals for improving access to Microdata for economic research. We underline the need for developing the relevant tools for extended access to and use of European business statistics microdata. Building such tools entails both establishing the requested microdata and creating a body facilitating cross-country access to the established databases with harmonized content.
Keywords: microdata; access; data harmonization; policy evaluation; European competitiveness
JEL Codes: C81; C82; C83; D22
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Limited access to microdata (C81) | Major obstacle for social science research (C90) |
| Limited access to microdata (C81) | Lack of comprehensive understanding of economic issues (F69) |
| Lack of comprehensive understanding of economic issues (F69) | Hampers effective policy-making (D78) |
| Improving access to microdata (C81) | Enhance ability to design and evaluate interventions effectively (C90) |
| Microdata (C81) | Essential for identifying causal relationships among economic phenomena (C50) |
| Granular data (Y10) | Adequately assess heterogeneous responses of firms and households to economic shocks (E39) |