What weight should I use in IPUMS-CPS

CPS
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What weight should I use in IPUMS-CPS

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The IPUMS-CPS samples are weighted, with some records representing more cases than others. This means that persons and households with some characteristics are over-represented in the samples, while others are underrepresented.

User Note: Weight variable names were recently changed to incorporate basic monthly data into IPUMS-CPS. Weight variables specific to the March supplement have been renamed: PERWT is now WTSUPP; HHWT is now HWTSUPP. BLSWT has been renamed WTFINL; it can be used to replicate published Bureau of Labor Statistics figures based on basic monthly survey questions and should be used in analyses of non-March data. Weights appropriate for household-level analyses of non-March data are also available (HWTFINL).

To obtain representative statistics from the samples, users must apply sample weights. Follow one of the following procedures:

  1. For most person-level analyses of March supplement IPUMS-CPS data, apply the WTSUPP variable. WTSUPP gives the population represented by each individual in the sample.

  2. For person-level analyses of non-March IPUMS-CPS data, apply the WTFINL variable. WTFINL gives the population represented by each individual in the sample. Analyses to replicate published Bureau of Labor Statistics figures should also use WTFINL rather than WTSUPP.

  3. For person-level analyses analyzing the summary health insurance variables (HCOVANY, HCOVPRIV, HINSEMP, HINSPUR, HCOVPUB, HINSCAID, HINSCARE, andHINSMIL), apply the HINSWT variable rather than WTSUPP.

  4. For person-level analyses using the IPUMS-CPS variables EARNWEEK, HOURWAGE, PAIDHOUR, and UNION, apply theEARNWT variable.

  5. For household-level analyses of March supplement data, weight the households using the HWTSUPP variable. HWTSUPP gives the number of households in the general population represented by each household in the sample.

  6. For household-level analyses of non-March data, weight the households using the HWTFINL variable. HWTFINL gives the number of households in the general population represented by each household in the sample.

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