MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: What Do Survey Data Tell Us about U.S. Businesses? What Do Survey Data Tell Us about U.S. Businesses?*

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2018

DOI: 10.21034/sr.568

Abstract: This paper examines the reliability of survey data for research on pass-through businesses activities. Pass-through businesses account for over half of all net income to businesses in the United States and most of the rise in top income shares. We examine all surveys that ask questions about these businesses and compare outcomes across surveys and with aggregated administrative data. We document large inconsistencies in business incomes, receipts, and number of returns. We highlight problems due to non-representative samples and measurement errors. Non-representativeness is reflected in undersampling of businesses, especially in categories of owners with low total incomes. Measurement errors arise because respondents do not refer to relevant documents when answering survey questions and also because some questions are framed in a manner that is confusing to respondents. Finally, we discuss measurement issues for statistics of interest, such as returns and valuations of ongoing private businesses, that are inherently latent and cannot be recovered using either survey or administrative data.

Url: https://www.minneapolisfed.org/research/

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Bhandari, Anmol; Birinci, Serdar; Mcgrattan, Ellen R; See, Kurt Gerrard

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IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop