Does Repeated Measurement Improve Income Data Quality?

Paul Fisher

Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 2019, vol. 81, issue 5, 989-1011

Abstract: This paper exploits a natural experiment created by a survey design to show that the quality of income data systematically changes across waves of a panel. We estimate that the effect of being interviewed for a second time, relative to the first, is to increase mean monthly income by 8%. Dependent interviewing – a recall device commonly used in panel surveys – explains one third of the observed increase. The remaining share is attributed to changes in respondent behaviour (panel conditioning). We review the evidence for and against a reporting improvement vs. a behavioural response by survey participants.

Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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https://doi.org/10.1111/obes.12296

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Working Paper: Does repeated measurement improve income data quality? (2016)
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