David Ribar, Ph.D.
Economics 725-01: Data Methods in Economics
Syllabus:
Schedule and Lecture Materials:
August 26 Sources of Data in Economics
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
- Reading: [Download in PDF format]
August 28 Panel Study of Income Dynamics
- PSID web-site
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
September 2 Introduction to SAS
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
September 9 Reading and Writing Data in SAS
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
September 16 Tables and Graphs in SAS
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
September 18 Data Cleaning
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
September 23 BY-group processing
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
September 25 Income variables in the PSID, data set merging, project assignment
- Much of the class will focus on examining headwife_t2fif05_mrg_hw3.sas
September 30 ARRAY processing and DO loops
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
October 2 Some multivariate procedures
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
October 7 Missing Data
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
October 9 Survey Design and Weighting
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
October 14 SAS Macros
- Notes: [Download in PDF format]
Assignments:
- August 26: Obtain a SAS license; start at https://web.uncg.edu/research-access/secure/sas/sas.asp
- September 4: Homework #1, due September 9
- September 9: Homework #2, due September 18
- September 18: Homework #3, due September 25
- September 25: Homework #4, due October 2
- September 25: Final Project, due October 28
- October 2: Homework #5, due October 9
- October 9: Homework #6, due October 16
Data and programs:
- ASCII data sets:
- web_example1.asc -- subset of variables drawn 2005 PSID individual file
- la_data_40_NC.txt state and local area employment and unemployment data for NC from the BLS/LAUS
- hw2.txt -- text file with variables for homework #2
- hw3.txt -- text file with variables for homework #3
- hw4.txt -- text file with variables for homework #4
- hw5.txt -- text file with variables for homework #5
- SAS Programs:
- example1_read_ASCII.sas -- program to read ASCII data set, web_example1.asc, and demonstrate basic SAS reading, data selection, variable construction and tabulating commands
- NC_county_read.sas -- program to read county-level unemployment rates for NC, using the BLS/LAUS data
- hw1.sas -- program for homework assignment #1
- tables_graphs_ex1.sas -- program with table and graph examples
- by_example.sas -- program that uses BY-group processing to calculate family statistics in PSID
- headwife_t2fif05_mrg_hw3.sas -- program that MERGEs cross-year individual level data from the homework 3 data cart with the 2005 T-2 Family Income File and calculates distributional statistics (discussed in class on Sept. 25)
- multi_stat_example.sas -- program to read data from HW4 data cart and illustrate different multivariate procedures
- hw1.sas -- instructor's program to complete homework 1
- headwife_t2fif05_mrg_hw4.sas -- instructor's program to complete homework 4
- headwife_t2fif05_mrg_hw4_with_weight.sas -- instructor's program to complete homework 4, modified to include weights
- hw5.sas -- instructor's first program to complete homework 5 (multiple output data set version)
- hw5_2.sas -- instructor's second program to complete homework 5 (single output data set version)
Graduate Assistant:
The graduate assistant for this course is Jonathan Woodward, a third-year student in the Ph.D. program. This is Jonathan's second year helping with ECO 725. Jonathan's office is 451 Bryan; his office hours are 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.
PSID resources:
- PSID web-site.
- Andreski, Patty, Frank P. Stafford and Wei-Jun Jean Yeung. "Assessing the PSID t-2 Income Data." Technical Series Paper #08-02. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, 2008.
- Burkhauser, Richard V., Robert R. Weathers II and Mathis Shroeder. "A Guide to Disability Statistics from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics." Working paper. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, 2006.
- Kim, Yong-Seong, Tecla Loup, Joseph Lupton and Frank P. Stafford. "Notes on the 'Income Plus' Files 1994-1997: Family Income and Components Files." Technical Series Paper #99-01. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, 2000.
- Kim, Yong-Seong, and Frank P. Stafford. "The Quality of PSID Income Data in the 1990's and Beyond." Working paper. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, 2000.
- Chart with information about where and how different income measures can be found
Other resources:
- SAS A-Z Product Documentation Site
- Slaughter, Susan J., and Lora D. Delwiche. "Errors, Warnings, and Notes (Oh My): A Practical Guide to Debugging SAS Programs," Proceedings of the Twenty-Eighth Annual SAS Users Group Internation Conference. Cary, NC: SAS Institute, Inc., 2003.
- Links to ECO 726 data sets
- Current Population Survey
- Decenniel Census
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
- National Longitudinal Surveys