Data Handling & Analysis: EU-SILC

ESeC - European Socioeconomic Classification in EU-SILC - GESIS Paper & Syntax: SPSS, stata, R

European inequality research often follows the tradition of using occupational based categorical classification to identify the socioeconomic position of individuals or households (e.g., classes, strata, milieus, occupational groups). In the past, European studies have often used the Erikson-Goldthorpe-Portocarero class (EGP) scheme (cf. Erikson & Goldthorpe 1992). However, the EGP scheme has only been validated for Great Britain (cf. Evans 1992). Variants for other countries are largely based on informed plausibility, following the British model, though operationalisation may vary by country. As an alternative to the EGP, two other currently available categorical concepts are the ESeC (European Socioeconomic Classification) and the ESeG (European Socioeconomic Groups), both based on the International Standard Classification of Occupation (ISCO). Both concepts are intended to improve cross-country comparative analysis of social inequality in Europe. However, the ESeC and ESeG differ in their theoretical basis and should not be confused with each other, and the ESeC and ESeG also cannot readily be transferred into each other. The ESeC is available for ISCO-88 (ESeC88) and ISCO-08 (ESeC08). The ESeG is available for ISCO-08. In this paper, we focus on the operationalisation of ESeC with EU-SILC cross-sectional data (2004-2020). Alongside this report, we have published syntax files (SPSS, Stata, and R) which can be used for the operationalisation of ESeC and ESeG.

Paper:
Wirth, Heike (2023): EU-SILC Tools: European Socioeconomic Classification - ESeC88 and ESeC08. GESIS Papers 2023/01 [.pdf]

Syntax:
esec_silc_2004_2020_R [.zip]
esec_silc_2004_2020_stata [.zip]
esec_silc_2004_2020_spss [.zip]

For details on ESeC please visit the homepage of Eric Harrison: https://www.ericharrison.co.uk/european-socio-economic-classification-esec.html

For ESeC in EU-SILC see also Tim Goedemé: https://timgoedeme.com/tools/esec-in-eu-silc/

This syntax (SPSS; Stata; R) generates European Socio-Economic Groups (ESeG) based on ISCO08 for EU-SILC - cross-sectional and longitudinal data**) - using the P-File (personal data) & R-FILE (personal register data):

ESEG_1 (less detailed)

ESEG_2 (detailed)

**) Starting with EU-SILC longitudinal 2019 only ISCO-08 one-digit is available, therefore no ESeG is operationalized (yet).

For details on ESeG please see:

Meron, Monique et al. (2014): Final Report of the ESSnet on the harmonisation and implementation of a European socio-economic classification: European Socio-economic Groups (ESeG)

Links:
[0] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/eseg-report-technicaldocuments_en
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/system/files/ESEG-Report-TechnicalAnnexes_0.zip_en
[2] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/eseg_en

• Herter, A. and Wirth, H. (2018): 'EU-SILC Tools: Calculating Standard Errors for EU-SILC using SPSS.' [GESIS Papers 2018|16]

• Gussenbauer, J. (2020): 'Estimating standard errors for Complex Surveys with a Rotating Panel Design' [.pdf].

• Goedemé, T. (2013): How much Confidence can we have in EU-SILC? Complex Sample Designs and the Standard Error of the Europe 2020 Poverty Indicators, in Social Indicators Research, 110(1): 89-110 [link].
• Goedemé, T. (2013): The EU-SILC sample design variables: critical review and recommendations, CSB Working Paper Series, WP 13/02, Antwerp, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp [.pdf].
• Goedemé, T. (2010): The standard error of estimates based on EU-SILC. An exploration through the Europe 2020 poverty indicators, CSB Working Paper Series, WP 10/09, Antwerp, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp [.pdf].
• Verma, V., Betti, G. and Gagliardi, F. (2010): An assessment of survey errors in EU-SILC, Eurostat methodologies and working papers, Eurostat, Luxembourg [ .pdf].