Attrition from Administrative Data: Problems and Solutions with an Application to Postsecondary Education

Andrew Foote and Kevin Stange

No 30232, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper examines the bias arising from individuals’ migration from administrative outcome data, with a focus on the labor market consequences of postsecondary education. We find that out-of-state migration is particularly problematic for high-earners, flagship graduates, and certain majors. Consequently, the effect of graduating from a flagship university is 10% higher than one would estimate using in-state earnings exclusively, though the extent of bias differs substantially across contexts. The impact of obtaining a 2-year CTE credential is also understated, as are earnings differences across majors. Approaches to testing for and bounding this bias are considered.

JEL-codes: I26 J31 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lma and nep-mig
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