Using a restricted-access web-site of anonymized, integrated census microdata (for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 … 50+ countries) * * * Robert McCaa, Steven Ruggles, & Matt Sobek University of Minnesota Population Center

» 1. What are census microdata? » 2. What is IPUMS-International? » Partners: > 50 official statistical agencies » Goals: inventory, preserve, anonymize, harmonize, disseminate (free of cost: » Principles: respect, retain, harmonize, enhance, free research » 3. How do we integrate? » Use international standards » Expert national assistance » 4. Who are our users and what do they use it for? » Major research universities in the US & world-wide » Policy researchers: World Bank, WHO, etc.

What are “census microdata”?: anonymized, computerized census records of individuals, households & dwellings Researchers can: Easier to harmonize than tables. Study any desired set of characteristics. Facilitates comparative research.

IPUMS-International partners by stage (please see Table 1) darkest green = final stage (data in dissemination) lighter green = middle stage (agreement signed) lightest green = first stage (agreement pending)

I N T E R N A T I O N A L I P U M S 8 countries available now (Table 2) 1998 – Colombia, National Institutes of Health, 1 country 1999 – International, National Science Foundation, 7 countries Brazil, China, France, Kenya, Mexico, USA, Vietnam 30 country-projects underway 2003 –Latin America, NIH, 14 countries Argentina, * Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela 2004 –Europe, NIH, 16 countries Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, * Russia, Slovenia, Spain, * Turkey, UK 17 country-projects to begin next year 2005 – Global, NSF, 17 countries Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, * Iran, * Iraq, Israel, * Indonesia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Philippines, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda 8 countries available now (Table 2) 1998 – Colombia, National Institutes of Health, 1 country 1999 – International, National Science Foundation, 7 countries Brazil, China, France, Kenya, Mexico, USA, Vietnam 30 country-projects underway 2003 –Latin America, NIH, 14 countries Argentina, * Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela 2004 –Europe, NIH, 16 countries Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, * Russia, Slovenia, Spain, * Turkey, UK 17 country-projects to begin next year 2005 – Global, NSF, 17 countries Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, * Iran, * Iraq, Israel, * Indonesia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Philippines, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda

IPUMS-International a global collaboratory of Official Statistical Institutes & Universities to: » 1. Inventory the world’s census microdata » 2. Preserve endangered microdata and documentation * * * » 3. Integrate census microdata » a. use standards of UNSD, Eurostat, ISCO, ISCED, etc. » b. facilitate comparative research in time and space » 4. Anonymize census microdata to preserve statistical confidentiality, using highest standards » 5. Disseminate restricted access, custom extracts to approved researchers/research projects at no cost Demonstration:

IPUMS-International principles: IPUMS-International principles: » 1. Respect absolute anonymity and confidentiality » 2. Retain all original data, except adjustments to insure privacy (top codes, blurrings, masking, re- ordering, etc.) » 3. Harmonize codes using international standards occupation: ISCO, HISCO (detailed, general) education: ISCED “ “ family: IPUMS, etc. “ “ » 4. Enhance with constructed variables (momloc, etc.) » 5. Disseminate free of charge to reseachers who need the data and agree to abide by conditions of use

INTEGRATESINTEGRATESINTEGRATESINTEGRATES Photos from Colombia integration project, February-March, 2000: 4 experts from DANE (census office) +7 academics (3 universities) IPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSi Standard:UN/Eurostat Principles & Recs... Census documentation compiled for Colombian microdata

I N T E G R A T E S I P U M Si » Integrate (harmonize), not standardize 1. retain all original detail 2. harmonize every digit » How is this possible? Composite codes (multiple digits, 111) Not serial (1, 2, 3,....) (Please see Table 3) » Why? Researcher confidently understands the logic uses as much detail as needed

Composite coding scheme: employment status integrated codes Please see Table 3 Codes in original data 1000 Employed, not specified Variable Description: Please see Appendix B

Example of Variable Availability: China, (Table 4) Total comparable variables Person variables Dwelling variables Geography--Region, Prov., City Social variables (education, ethnicity, family, marriage)

DISSEMINATESDISSEMINATESDISSEMINATESDISSEMINATES IPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSi Legally-binding license agreement » protects privacy and confidentiality » assures proper use Access limited to: » Bona-fide researchers (credentials) » With a demonstrated scientific need » who agree to abide by license restrictions » Confidentiality » Educational, policy uses only (no commercial use) » No redistribution » Safely secured » Proper citation Restricted Access web-based extraction system (Appendix B)

DISSEMINATESDISSEMINATESDISSEMINATESDISSEMINATES IPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSi Researcher selects » Countries, » Censuses, » Cases/sub-populations, » Variables, and » Sample densities » Users: » Of 518 applicants, 288 accepted; denial of access rate = 44% » Usage by country (% of projects): Mexico (59%), USA (50%), Colombia (38%), Kenya (37%), Vietnam (37%), France (34%), China (24%). Restricted Access web-based extraction system facilitates chronological &/or cross-national research

DISSEMINATESDISSEMINATESDISSEMINATESDISSEMINATES IPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSi » International Organizations (35) » WHO (5) » World Bank (6) » National Statistical Institutes (9) » US Universities (195) » California (17) » Harvard (7) » Non-US Universities (49) » Africa (4) » Asia (10) » Europe (21) » Americas (14) Affiliations Of 288 Users, May (examples)

DISSEMINATESDISSEMINATESDISSEMINATESDISSEMINATES IPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSiIPUMSi » Living arrangements of the aged » Female labor-force participation and educational attainment » Regional inequality differentials » International migration » Divorce and family composition » U.S. National Academy of Sciences, “Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries” uses data from Colombia, Kenya, Mexico, and Vietnam to analyze changing outcomes such as schooling, work, fertility, and marriage as a function of age, gender, etc. Research Topics (examples)

B E N E F I T S I P U M Si » Researchers & policy-makers: High-quality, harmonized microdata—free of charge Comprehensive, integrated metadata » Official Statistics Institutes: Fair, free, uniform solution to providing census microdata Trust, transparency, more stakeholders Increased usage, better science/policy Enhanced cost-benefit ratio Little or no marginal cost (project pays license fee) » Citizens, Society, and Governments: Who we are What the future may bring How policies might be improved

On a millennial scale, census microdata survive for only a short, but significant period May we help preserve yours?... help promote good use?

You are invited to visit the web-site: contact: * * * * * Thank you!! You are invited to visit the web-site: T contact: * * * * * Thank you!!