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
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: Suggested Citation