Working Paper: NBER ID: w13941
Authors: Jeff Larrimore; Richard V. Burkhauser; Shuaizhang Feng; Laura Zayatz
Abstract: Using the internal March CPS, we create and in this paper distribute to the larger research community a cell mean series that provides the mean of all income values above the topcode for any income source of any individual in the public use March CPS that has been topcoded since 1976. We also describeour construction of this series. When we use this series together with the public use March CPS, we closely match the yearly mean income levels and income inequalities of the U.S. population found using the internal March CPS data.
Keywords: Income Measurement; Inequality; Topcoding; Current Population Survey
JEL Codes: C8; D3; J3
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Implementation of cell means (L96) | Accuracy of income measurement (E01) |
| Introduction of cell means in 1996 (L96) | Representation of high-income individuals (D31) |
| Cell mean series (Y10) | Accurate reflection of mean income levels (D31) |
| Cell mean series (Y10) | Accurate measurement of income inequality (D31) |
| Cell means (L96) | Closer approximation of actual income levels (D31) |