Census Microdata as a Critical Resource for Research

The value and utility of census data extends far beyond the release of official census results. This session illustrates the incredible wealth and depth of information in censuses, which enables scientific discovery and informed policy making if researchers have access to census microdata. By showcasing recent research that draws on census microdata available through the IPUMS International database, this session makes a case for continued adherence to open data practices in the area of census and survey microdata dissemination.

IPUMS International is the world's largest collection of population microdata available for research. More than 100 countries have joined in partnership with IPUMS as part of their census (and survey) microdata dissemination efforts. IPUMS facilitates researcher access to important census microdata by
- standardizing disparate data formats;
- harmonizing data at the variable level across time and across countries according to international standard classifications where possible,
- ensuring long term data preservation according to best practices in data archiving,
- curating and optimizing documentation from questionnaires, enumerator instructions and sample documentation; - managing and vetting credentials of data requesters; and
- disseminating data through a user friendly web system that provides customized data extracts to eligible members of the research community.
The goal is to facilitate comparative and cross-temporal international research. In pursuing this goal, IPUMS does not reduce international differences to a set of least common denominators but aims to provide researchers access to the full detail of the original data. The database includes more than 1 billion person records across 400+ censuses from 104 countries. The IPUMS samples are nationally representative and typically offer geographic detail to the second administrative level within countries, such as counties, districts, or municipalities. More than 100 thousand registered researchers from academic and government institutions worldwide access microdata files, including international and US census and survey data, from IPUMS.

This session illustrates the ways that providing access to census microdata fuels scholarly research. Our panel members will present results from their recent research using census microdata shared by more than 100 countries. The data are accessible and optimized for research use through the IPUMS database. The papers cover a variety of topics, including migration and living standards; educational attainment and mobility; creation of an urban area database; and trends in family living arrangements. Each presentation will highlight why census microdata are uniquely suited to the research agenda. Discussion will focus on how and why continued access to population representative data are crucial for advancing knowledge about human populations and activities. Authors and the discussant will also describe data features and detail which ensure robust analysis and sound findings.

Presenters

Rodrigo Lovaton Davila, IPUMS at the University of Minnesota (Research Scientist)

Frederico Roman Ramos, São Paulo School of Business Administration (Faculty) and University of Amsterdam (Researcher)

Ercio Munoz Saavedra, World Bank (Extended term consultant, Poverty and Equity Global Practice)

Albert Esteve, Center for Demographic Studies, Autonomous University of Barcelona (Faculty and Director)

Discussant

Lara Cleveland, IPUMS at the University of Minnesota (Research Scientist)

Chair

Sula Sarkar, IPUMS at the University of Minnesota (Research Scientist)

Tentative Paper Titles and Summaries

Internal migration and living standards in Latin America (1990-2010)
by Lovaton Davila and Sarkar
This study examines spatial variability in living standards and inequality at the place of origin and destination as push or pull factors for internal migration. Using census microdata samples from 3 census rounds in each of four Latin American countries and a living standards index based on household asset information consistently available in the censuses, results indicate that migration flows increase with living standards at origin and destination, as well as inequality at the place of origin.

The Geography of Intergenerational Mobility in Latin America & the Caribbean
by Munoz Saavedra
This research estimates intergenerational mobility in education using data from 91 censuses that span 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean over half a century, disaggregated nearly 400 “provinces” and more than 6,000 “districts.” Results are heterogeneous but suggest overall that the level of mobility is highly correlated with the share of primary completion of the previous generation. There is also evidence of a declining trend in the mobility gap between urban and rural populations, and small differences by gender.

An Introduction to DUIA: The database of urban inequality and amenities
by Ramos and Uitermark
This article introduces DUIA, the Database on Urban Inequality and Amenities, which describes socio-economic development and amenities of 86 cities, mostly outside the West. The database is designed to address three concerns that have not been resolved by other databases on cities. Goals are 1) improved accuracy in the definition of city boundaries (using remote sensing data from the Atlas on Urban Expansion); 2) harmonized and disaggregated housing and population characteristics (drawing on IPUMS); and 3) ensuring transparency and replicability through use of open source software and script sharing. DUIA aims to lower barriers to the systematic study of inequality and amenities over time and across cities.

Trends in family living arrangements, nuclear households, and development
by Esteve et al.
This paper examines trends in the prevalence of nuclear households in relation to country development level. The work utilizes the vast collection of census microdata available from IPUMS and is part of UNDESA’s work describing household living arrangements.

Organiser: Dr Lara Cleveland 

Chair: Sula Sarkar 

Speaker: Ercio Munoz Saavedra  

Speaker: Albert Esteve 

Speaker: Rodrigo Lovaton Davila 

Speaker: Frederico Roman Ramos 

Discussant:  Dr Lara Cleveland