The purpose of this paper is to provide some guidance to users and potential users of longitudinal data sets who are trying to sort out appropriate approaches to the problems of analyzing longitudinal panel data. This paper does not attempt to offer any new insights into the methodologies available to estimate the determinants of change (or stability) in a given variable or set of variables over time, nor are the theoretical issues underlying these methodologies addressed in any detail. Instead, the paper is designed to be a much more basic "how to" guide, focusing on the most fundamental choices that must be made by the analyst in undertaking a project involving the use of longitudinal data. Further, the paper focuses almost exclusively on the application of longitudinal analysis to questions concerning patterns of family income, expenditures and/or demographic change.

Others in Series

Working Paper

The Elderly and Their Sources of Income

June 1990

Transfer payments (largely from government programs), and property income (dividends, interest, and rent).

Working Paper

Alternative Estimates of Economic Well-Being by Age

March 1990

This paper examines the use of income-wealth measures for the analysis of the distribution of economic well-being for age groups in the current period.

Working Paper

Measurement Errors in SIPP Program Reports

1990

The purposes of the SIPP Record Check Study are to evaluate the quality of the program participation data and to generate ideas for improving the data quality.

Related Information

Survey of Income and Program Participation Working Papers

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