The Effects of Income Imputation on Micro Analyses: Evidence from the ECHP

Publication type

Conference Paper

Series

Italian Congress of Econometrics and Empirical Economics

Authors

Publication date

January 24, 2005

Abstract:

Social surveys are usually affected by item and unit nonresponse. Since it is unlikely that a sample of respondents is a random sample, social scientists should take the missing data problem into account in their empirical analyses. Typically, survey methodologists try to simplify the work of data users by 'completing'' the data, filling the missing variables through imputation. The aim of this paper is to give data users some guidelines on how to assess the effects of imputation on their micro-level analyses. We focus attention on the potential bias caused by imputation in the analysis of income variables and poverty measures. We consider two methods for evaluating the effects of imputation, using the European Community Household Panel as an illustration.


Related Publications

#517782

News

Latest findings, new research

Publications search

Search all research by subject and author

Podcasts

Researchers discuss their findings and what they mean for society

Projects

Background and context, methods and data, aims and outputs

Events

Conferences, seminars and workshops

Survey methodology

Specialist research, practice and study

Taking the long view

ISER's annual report

Themes

Key research themes and areas of interest