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Estimating years of education using the current population survey after 2014

Author

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  • Hersch, Joni
  • Mendoza Lopez, Fernando
  • Shinall, Jennifer Bennett

Abstract

In 2015, the Current Population Survey (CPS) eliminated three questions related to educational attainment. These now-eliminated questions continue to be used by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) to calculate their years of education variable in their Merged Outgoing Rotation Groups (MORG) extracts. We demonstrate that the NBER imputation method after 2014 results in missing values for imputed education for 27.5% of the observations and average years of education of about 1.1 fewer years. We provide coding that can be used with the current CPS questions to allow comparison of years of education over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Hersch, Joni & Mendoza Lopez, Fernando & Shinall, Jennifer Bennett, 2020. "Estimating years of education using the current population survey after 2014," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:189:y:2020:i:c:s0165176520300665
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109058
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jaeger, David A., 2003. "Estimating the returns to education using the newest current population survey education questions," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 78(3), pages 385-394, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Current population survey; Education; Missing data; Coding errors; Merged outgoing rotation groups; NBER;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • J00 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - General
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education

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