Retrospective Error in SOEP Calendar Data: The Case of Unemployment

摘要: This paper compares current and one-year retrospective data on unemployment in the German SOEP. Thirteen percent of all spells remain unreported one year later, another 7 are misreported. Individuals with weak labour force attachment, e.g., women children or individuals close to retirement, have largest propensity underreport retrospectively. The consistent evidence bias found by cognitive psychologists survey methodologists.