The Requirements for Empirical Economic Research and for Empirically Supported Economic and Social Policy Advice

Institute for the Study of Labor Discussion Paper No. 14

Posted: 2 Aug 1999

See all articles by Klaus F. Zimmermann

Klaus F. Zimmermann

Global Labor Organization (GLO); UNU-MERIT; Maastricht University, Department of Economics; Free University Berlin; University of Bonn; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Journal of Population Economics

Richard Hauser

University of Frankfurt - Economics and Business Administration Area

Gert G. Wagner

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin); Berlin University of Technology; German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP)

Date Written: June 1998

Abstract

Based on the hypothesis that microdata are of crucial importance for internationally competitive economic research and scientific advice in economic and social policy, the authors develop various proposals for an improved data supply for empirical work in Germany. Present shortcomings are mainly caused by a lack of coordination between data collecting institutions and scientific users, extensive privacy protection provisions and restrictive information policy of government agencies. In order to overcome these problems, the authors ask for improved participation of scientific users in data collection; provision of recent techniques for data anonymization and decentralized use of confidential centralized data; liberalization of scientific data access; and creation of a documentation center for organization and standardization of data and data access. Finally, empirical economics, especially application of microdata and modern tools of data analysis, should be emphasized within the framework of university education.

JEL Classification: C81, C82

Suggested Citation

Zimmermann, Klaus F. and Hauser, Richard and Wagner, Gert G., The Requirements for Empirical Economic Research and for Empirically Supported Economic and Social Policy Advice (June 1998). Institute for the Study of Labor Discussion Paper No. 14, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=166351

Klaus F. Zimmermann (Contact Author)

Global Labor Organization (GLO) ( email )

Bonn
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://https://glabor.org/

UNU-MERIT ( email )

Keizer Karelplein 19
Maastricht, 6211TC
Netherlands

Maastricht University, Department of Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, Limburg 6200MD
Netherlands

University of Bonn

Postfach 2220
Bonn, D-53012
Germany

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

Journal of Population Economics

Tiergartenstr. 17
D-69121 Heidelberg
Germany

Richard Hauser

University of Frankfurt - Economics and Business Administration Area ( email )

Senckenberganlage 31
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
+ 49 69 798 22564 (Phone)
+ 069 798 28287 (Fax)

Gert G. Wagner

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany
+49 30 8 978 9290 (Phone)
+49 30 8 978 9200 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.diw.de/programme/jsp/MA.jsp?language=en&uid=gwagner

Berlin University of Technology ( email )

Straße des 17
Berlin, 10623
Germany
+30 8 978 9283 (Phone)

German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) ( email )

DIW Berlin
10108 Berlin, Berlin
Germany
+49 30 8978 9290 (Phone)
+49 30 8978 9109 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.diw/en/soep

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