Microdata Panel Data and Public Policy: National and Cross-National Perspectives

Abstract

This paper focuses on the movement of data-based social policy analysis from a single country cross-sectional frame to a multicountry panel frame. It provides examples of policy insights this movement to panel data has permitted, both with respect to economic well-being and behavior—using data from the PSID (Panel Study of Income Dynamics), the BHPS (British Household Panel Study), the GSOEP (German Socio-Economic Panel), and the HRS (Health and Retirement Study). It also suggests fruitful areas for future panel data-based policy research.