Historical Census Record Linkage

Posted: 7 Sep 2018

See all articles by Steven Ruggles

Steven Ruggles

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis

Catherine A. Fitch

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis

Evan Roberts

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis

Date Written: July 2018

Abstract

For the past 80 years, social scientists have been linking historical censuses across time to study economic and geographic mobility. In recent decades, the quantity of historical census record linkage has exploded, owing largely to the advent of new machine-readable data created by genealogical organizations. Investigators are examining economic and geographic mobility across multiple generations and also engaging many new topics. Several analysts are exploring the effects of early-life socioeconomic conditions, environmental exposures, or natural disasters on family, health, and economic outcomes in later life. Other studies exploit natural experiments to gauge the impact of policy interventions such as social welfare programs and educational reforms. The new data sources have led to a proliferation of record linkage methodologies, and some widespread approaches inadvertently introduce errors that can lead to false inferences. A new generation of large-scale shared data infrastructure now in preparation will ameliorate weaknesses of current linkage methods.

Suggested Citation

Ruggles, Steven and Fitch, Catherine A. and Roberts, Evan, Historical Census Record Linkage (July 2018). Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 44, pp. 19-37, 2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3245762 or http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-073117-041447

Steven Ruggles (Contact Author)

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis ( email )

110 Wulling Hall
86 Pleasant St, S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

Catherine A. Fitch

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis

110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant St, S.E.
308 Harvard Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

Evan Roberts

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis

110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant St, S.E.
308 Harvard Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

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