Yngch in 1976 and 1977

CPS
1

Hi,

I’m noticing that for 1976 and 1977 there are no recorded values for yngch (age of youngest own child in household) less than 14. The documentation for this IPUMS-derived variable says that it’s available for these two years with no notes in the comparability section.

Is this an error or does it have to do with the construction of teh source variables in those years?

Thanks!
Jana

2

This is a good question. As is noted on the basic monthly sample notes page, CPS basic monthly samples in 1976 and 1977 do not contain any individuals under the age of 14. This explains most of your observation, but there is a small exception. The October 1976 and 1977 samples included supplemental data, which was delivered separately from the basic monthly data, that contain records for individuals less than 14 years old and older than 2 years old. Because this supplement data for October 1976 and 1977 was not originally part of the basic monthly samples, however, it is not able to be integrated with the family interrelationship variables.

3

Thanks for flagging the sample notes page. I will be sure to refer to this going forward.

The reason there IS data for individuals under the age of 14 in 1979-1981 is because there are supplemental data for months within those years, correct? If so, were the supplemental data from those additional months originally a part of the basic monthly samples, as opposed to the supplemental data from October?

4

Yes, you are correct. The supplemental data from other months were able to be integrated with the family interrelationship variables.

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