Quick Links
- SIPP DocumentationFind out which variables to use.
- CPS March Supplment DocumentationFind out which variables to use.
- Data FerrettWhere you download SIPP and CPS.
Context
Aaron has told me that you will be working on a project to assess the
impact of the 2000 Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act, which repealed
the earnings test for retirees receiving Social Security benefits.
Two
government datasets present themselves as possibilities for
investigating this question as they both contain data about individuals'
age, income, and Social Security benefits; and both provide cross
section data representative of the population of the United States
before and after the passing of the legislation. The datasets are the
Survey of Income and Program Participation, or SIPP, and the Current
Population Survey, or CPS, March Supplement.
You will need to investigate these two datasets, their structure,
methodology, purpose and the variables they contain to decide on one and
use it for analysis. Documentation and metadata are available for this
purpose and are linked below.
Because both of
these datasets are very large, you will need to create a subset of the
data, pulling just the variables you will need from the whole. To create
a subset, you'll use a specialized software called Data Ferret.
Using Data Ferrett
Data Ferrett is software that allows for distribution of several government public use microdatasets. You will need to install it (on a Mac) or install a security policy (on a Windows machine) in order to use it. These videos demonstrate the setup process. The videos in the following sections provide detailed instructions for using Data Ferrett to download subsets of the SIPP or the CPS.
Warning: On lab machines, Data Ferrett only works on the Windows side.
Installing and getting started with Data Ferrett:
- On a personal Mac (video, 2:28 min.)
- On the Mac side of a lab computer -- sorry, not possible
- On the Windows side of a lab computer (video, 1:28 min.)
- On a personal Windows computer -- same as on a lab machine (above)
Go to Data Ferrett.
Survey of Program Participation (SIPP)
Step 1: Get to know the dataset and choose your variables
Documentation: SIPP web site
Video: Understanding SIPP (4:23 min.)
Step 2: Subset and download your data
Video: Downloading SIPP Data with Data Ferrett (on a Mac, 4:18 min.)
Current Population Survey (CPS), March Supplement
Step 1: Get to know the dataset and choose your variables.
Documentation Resources
Video: Understanding the CPS (3:07 min.)
Step 2: Subset and download your data.
Downloading CPS Data with Data Ferrett (on a PC)
Other Possible Data Sources
- Survey of Consumer FinancesConducted by the Federal Reserve Board every three years.
Subject Guide |
 Kristin Partlo Contact Info Libe 420 (along the orange wall opposite the penguin) AIM: gouldsocialsci Phone: x7668 Send Email |
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