Support #2174
open
Negative Gross Income Variables
70%
Description
Hello,
I am hoping to use the Understanding Society dataset for a college project looking at individual and household earnings, but I have noticed that the variable for gross monthly labour income w_fimnlabgrs_dv has some negative values, for example the smallest value in the dataset in the individual file in wave L is -5589.49. Can you please explain what it means for the income to take on negative values?
Thanks so much for your help!
Updated by Understanding Society User Support Team about 2 months ago
- Status changed from New to In Progress
- % Done changed from 0 to 10
- Private changed from Yes to No
Many thanks for your enquiry. The Understanding Society team is looking into it and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We aim to respond to simple queries within 48 hours and more complex issues within 7 working days.
Best wishes,
Understanding Society User Support Team
Updated by Understanding Society User Support Team about 2 months ago
ยท Edited
- Category changed from Data inconsistency to Income
- % Done changed from 10 to 70
Dear Patricia,
Negative values come from the self-employment pay (w_seearngrs_dv*) component (reporting losses) of the fimnlabgrs_dv variable. For further information about our income variables check:
https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/working-papers/2019-08.pdf
https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/mainstage/user-guides/main-survey-user-guide/individual-income-variables/
Best wishes,
Piotr Marzec
UKHLS User Support
Updated by Understanding Society User Support Team about 2 months ago
- Status changed from In Progress to Feedback