The Generation of Individual and Household Incomes at the Small Area Level using Synthesis

BIRKIN M. and CLARKE M. (1989) The generation ofindividual and household incomes at the small area level using synthesis, Reg. Studies 23, 535–548. This paper describes a method for generating estimates of small area income distributions at the micro-level. The methodology is based on the combination of iterative proportional fitting to estimate missing data and micro-simulation. This method generates synthetic individuals and households together with their associated attributes for enumeration districts in the study area. Data sets that are used include the 1981 Census of Population together with the New Earnings Survey. Results from the modelling exercise are used to illustrate both the types of information that are produced and the flexible nature of aggregation when a micro-data approach is adopted. The study area used is the Leeds Metropolitan District but the results should prove of more general interest. BIRKIN M. et CLARKE M. (1989) La generation des revenus individuels et menagers par petites zon...