Microcensus Scientific Use Files from 2012 onward as a Rotational Panel
In the microcensus, each sampling district remains in the sample for four years, and 25% of the sample is replaced each year. A new procedure for the subsample and time-consistent identifiers since the 2012 scientific use file allow to use this feature of a rotational panel. This offers further analysis possibilities.
The paper (available in German) describes how researchers can independently create panel files and what has to be taken into account. In addition, there are programs for SAS, SPSS and Stata for linking the cross-sectional data.
- Herter-Eschweiler, R.; Schimpl-Neimanns, B., 2018: Möglichkeiten der Verknüpfung von Mikrozensus-Querschnitterhebungen ab 2012 zu Panels [.pdf]
SAS-, SPSS- and Stata-Program
Please note:
The syntax files should be downloaded and used with statistics programs. The browser view provides only an overview. Characters with an Umlaut and line breaks are sometimes displayed incorrectly.
| Version 1 (longitudinal orientation): For analysing gross changes and survival analysis |
panel_12131415_v1.sas panel_12131415_v1.sps panel_12131415_v1.do |
| panel_121314_v1.sas panel_121314_v1.sps panel_121314_v1.do | |
| panel_1213_v1.sas panel_1213_v1.sps panel_1213_v1.do | Version 2 (cross-sectional orientation): For the analysis of net changes or cumulated data from consecutive years | panel_1213_v2.sas panel_1213_v2.sps panel_1213_v2.do |
Nonresponse adjustment and design weights in the German Microcensus panel 2012 – 2015
Since the Scientific Use File of 2012, the annual data can be merged into a rotation panel. In accordance with the principle of area sampling, residential movers are not followed. The core methodological problem is whether the resulting dropout leads to biased results. If this dropout is to be corrected by means of design weights, some information is currently missing from the data; among other things, the differentiation of the reasons for dropout – spatial mobility and death. In this report, the missing information on deaths is imputed using a model-based procedure. It is then shown by way of examples how longitudinal weights can be created. Furthermore, effects of missing information on deaths are examined. If the longitudinal populations contain deaths incorrectly, the longitudinal weights are higher than with the correct procedure and lead to compensation of deceased persons. Against this background, better data provision is proposed.
- Schimpl-Neimanns, B., 2021: Nonresponse adjustment and design weights in the German Microcensus panel 2012 – 2015. GESIS Papers 2021|14. Köln: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften [.pdf]