In and Out of the Capitalia Sample: Evaluating Attrition Bias

DiSES, Università di Salerno Working Paper No. 3174

31 Pages Posted: 6 Feb 2007

See all articles by Annamaria Nese

Annamaria Nese

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II; CSEF - University of Naples Federico II - Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF)

Niall O'Higgins

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II; ILO; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; CSEF - University of Naples Federico II - Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF)

Date Written: December 2005

Abstract

The Capitalia sample survey of manufacturing firms in Italy represents a potentially important source of panel data on Italian firms. To date 8 waves have been released the most recent of which takes the survey upto the year 2000. In each wave, data is collected for a three year period and resampling of the same firms allows the construction of a firm panel over a much longer period. The composition of such a panel for the 5th, 6th 7th and 8th waves covering the period 1989-2000 inclusive was undertaken as part of the PRIN 2003 research project "Metodi e applicazioni per la valutazione delle politiche del lavoro e di aiuto alle imprese."

In this paper, the characteristics of the sample are considered. In particular, sample entry and exit behaviour are studied in order to gain some understanding of the potential for using the database constructed at the University of Salerno for undertaking panel studies of firms over 2 or more waves of the survey. Such panels would be useful in many contexts, for example, in gaining a better understanding of the impact of industrial policies on indicators of firm success than has thusfar been possible with the analysis of single waves of the sample. Given the unique richness of the database in terms of the range of qualitative as well as quantitative information on Italian firms which it contains, the potential uses and usefulness of a panel dataset constricted from the Capitalia sample are extensive.

Keywords: panel attrition, industrial policy

JEL Classification: C23, C42, L53

Suggested Citation

Nese, Annamaria and O'Higgins, Shane Niall and O'Higgins, Shane Niall, In and Out of the Capitalia Sample: Evaluating Attrition Bias (December 2005). DiSES, Università di Salerno Working Paper No. 3174, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=960938 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.960938

Annamaria Nese

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II ( email )

Via John Paul II, 132
Fisciano (SA), 84084
Italy

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II - Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF) ( email )

Via Cintia
Complesso Monte S. Angelo
Naples, Naples 80126
Italy

Shane Niall O'Higgins (Contact Author)

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II ( email )

Via John Paul II, 132
Fisciano (SA), 84084
Italy

ILO ( email )

CH-1211 Geneva 22
Switzerland

HOME PAGE: http://www.ilo.org

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II - Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF) ( email )

Via Cintia
Complesso Monte S. Angelo
Naples, Naples 80126
Italy