Comparing Retrospective and Panel Data Collection Methods to Assess Labor Market Dynamics

Ragui Assaad (), Caroline Krafft and Shaimaa Yassin ()
Additional contact information
Shaimaa Yassin: University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

No 11052, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: There is potential for measurement problems in both retrospective and panel microdata. In this paper we compare results on basic indicators related to labor markets and their dynamics from retrospective and panel survey data in Egypt, in order to determine the conditions under which results are similar or different. Specifically, we (1) assess the consistency of reporting of time-invariant characteristics in different waves of the panel, (2) compare the retrospective and panel data results on past labor market statuses, (3) assess the consistency of estimates of labor market transition rates across two specific dates by comparing panel and retrospective data, (4) assess the consistency of estimates of the level and trends of annual labor market transition rates across retrospective data from different waves of the survey, and (5) assess whether retrospective data can provide accurate trends of labor market aggregates, such as unemployment rates. We find that it is possible to garner useful information on labor market dynamics from retrospective data, but one must be cautious about which information to trust and at what level of detail. We conclude with a discussion of implications for future research as well as future survey design.

Keywords: panel data; retrospective data; survey data; measurement error; labor markets; Egypt (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C81 C83 J01 J62 J64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 50 pages
Date: 2017-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ara, nep-cta and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published - published in: Journal of Youth Studies, 2020, 24 (2),186-212

Downloads: (external link)
https://docs.iza.org/dp11052.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Comparing retrospective and panel data collection methods to assess labor market dynamics (2018)
Working Paper: Comparing Retrospective and Panel Data Collection Methods to Assess Labor Market Dynamics (2016)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11052

Ordering information: This working paper can be ordered from
IZA, Margard Ody, P.O. Box 7240, D-53072 Bonn, Germany

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) IZA, P.O. Box 7240, D-53072 Bonn, Germany. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Holger Hinte ().