Abstract
This paper provides new evidence on the extent of measurement error in respondent-reported earnings data by exploiting detailed W-2 records matched to older workers in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). There is a negative correlation between the measurement error and the true value of earnings as measured by the W-2 records, which indicates the presence of non-classical measurement error. Yet for men and women, this error shows little correlation with a standard set of cross-sectional earnings determinants. Quantitatively, the bias from using self-reported earnings, either as a dependent or explanatory variable, is larger than those from existing studies of the CPS and PSID.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 39-61 |
Number of pages | 23 |
Journal | Journal of Economic and Social Measurement |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2008 |
Keywords
- Earnings
- Measurement error
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Social Sciences