Finding John Smith: Using Extra Information for Historical Record Linkage

Ran Abramitzky, Leah Boustan, Harriet M. Brookes Gray, Katherine Eriksson, Santiago Perez, Hannah M. Postel, Myera Rashid and Noah Simon

No 33999, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We introduce a new rule-based linking method for historical Census records. We augment earlier algorithms based on name, age and place of birth (Abramitzky, Boustan, Eriksson, 2012, or “basic ABE”), with five matching characteristics – middle initial, county of residence, and spouse and parents’ names. Relative to basic ABE, ABE-Extra Information (“ABE-EI”) greatly increases match rates, improves accuracy and is similarly representative of the population on most attributes, with geographic mobility being one important exception. Relative to machine learning algorithms, ABE-EI has somewhat lower match rates, improved representativeness, and offers full replicability. We also create the first ABE-based links for women.

JEL-codes: N31 N32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-07
Note: AG CH DAE ED EH LS PE
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