NLSY79 Appendix 23: Revised Asset and Debt Variables and Computed TOTAL Net Wealth Variables

NLSY79 Appendix 23: Revised Asset and Debt Variables and Computed TOTAL Net Wealth Variables

The NLSY79 public release data contains a variety of asset and debt data, as well as some computed variables depicting total net family wealth at each survey point. Below are descriptions of revised asset and debt variables for survey years 1985-2000 (found in ASSETS area of interest with question names ending in “_REVISED”) and the constructed Total Net Family Wealth (TNFW_TRUNC) variables.

Revised Asset and Debt Variables

The public release contains a revised set of asset and debt variables for survey years 1985-2000. These revised asset and debt variables were created in 2008 and fixed a number of problems with the NLSY79 data by eliminating some implausible outliers and generating uniform topcodes for all rounds. These variables are then used in the computation of Total Net Family Wealth variables. Two versions of each asset and debt variable appear in the data. Using the market value of residential property owned by the respondent in 1987 as an example, the following variables appear in the data:

R23627.00  [Q13-118] MARKET VALUE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY R/SPOUSE OWN (TRUNC)

R23627.01  [Q13-118_REVISED] MARKET VALUE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY R/SPOUSE OWN (TRUNC) (REVISED)

In the example, Q13-118 is the original variable which remains in the dataset to allow researchers to reproduce previous results. Q13-118_REVISED, as indicated, is a revised version of Q13-118, which uses a modified topcoding algorithm. This algorithm provides researchers with some additional information with respect to the topcoded range of responses.

Table 1 gives an example using the 1987 property value question of how seven different types of cases were handled by the revision process.

Table 1.  Hypothetical Examples of How NLSY79 Asset/Debt Data Were Modified

 

Original R23627.00

Q13-118

Revised R23627.01

Q13_118-REVISED

Explanation

Case #1

$150,001

$276,984

Originally above the topcode and the value is still above the topcode but the topcode is now higher, revealing more information

Case #2

$150,001

$151,500

Originally above topcode and now below topcode.  Value is no longer topcoded.

Case #3

-1

-1

Originally “refused”. 

Case #4

-2

-2

Originally “don't know”. 

Case #5

-3

-3

Originally an “invalid skip”. 

Case #6

-4

-4

Originally a valid skip.  Since valid skip means does not have the asset the item is changed to zero.

Case #7

-2

-2

Originally “don't know”. 

Not every asset or debt variable has a new revised. 15 asset/debt categories were created in each year, matching the categories found in the 1990s NLSY79 wealth module. The categories are: Home Value, Mortgage Value, Property Debt Value, Cash Saving, Stocks/Bonds, Trusts, Business Assets, Business Debts, Vehicle Value, Vehicle Debt, Possession Value, Other Debt Value, IRA, 401K, Certificate of Deposit Value. In 2000 and subsequent survey years, some complexities were added to the asset and wealth module as the cohort aged. For these more recent survey rounds, each asset/debt category corresponds to multiple individual asset/debt variables.

For example, in 2004 respondents were asked to report the values of two homes. Their values are combined to form the "home value" category. Similarly, in 2004 the "stocks/bonds" category represents the individually-reported values of government bonds, mutual funds, life insurance surrender values, stocks, corporate bonds, and money owed to the respondent.

Details of the Revisions to Asset Values 1985-2000

The process for creating the revised variables described above can be broken down into the three steps described below.

Step 1 -- Cleaning Raw Data

The original raw data for many asset/wealth variables contains a number of “out-of-range” codes. Some of these out-of-range codes denoted values that exceeded the maximum value accommodated in the questionnaire and allowed for by the data entry software. These out-of-range codes were originally given the top code value when released to the public. Examination of cases with out-of-range suggests some were mistakes and not actually out of range. This issue arises in the pre-1993 Paper and Pencil interviewing (PAPI) years, but is most prevalent in survey years 1988 and 1989. For the REVISED/Q13-118_REVISED set of variables, these out-of-range codes were assigned an "invalid missing" (-3) code. These cases can be found by identifying values that were top coded in the original version of a variable (Q13-118) but were assigned an “invalid missing” code (-3) in the REVISED version (Q13-118_REVISED).

Step 2 -- Unfolding Brackets

Unfolding brackets are a means for respondents to estimate certain asset values of which they were unsure. Respondents who are unable to report a specific value for an asset or liability are asked a series of questions to establish a loose range for a value (see Appendix 20: Round 20 (2002) Early Bird and Income Recall Experiments for further information on the use of unfolding brackets in the NLSY79). A respondent who does not know or refuses to report the value of his certificate of deposit (CD) would first be asked if the CD is worth more than a randomly assigned entry amount ($10,000 for some respondents and $20,000 for others). If the value is not above the entry amount, the respondent is asked if the value of his CD is worth $5,000 or more. If the value is above the entry amount, he is asked if the value would amount to $30,000 or more. These three questions result in four potential reported ranges: 1) below $5,000; 2) between $5,000 and the entry amount; 3) between the entry amount and $30,000; and 4) above $30,000.

Beginning in survey year 2000, as part of an experiment for estimation of values, unfolding brackets were used for four asset/debt categories and the net wealth question. In 2004, unfolding brackets were expanded to all asset/debt categories for which respondents were not sure of a value.

Estimates given for asset values were incorporated into the calculation of TNFW_TRUNC variables by:

  • Using the midpoint of the range for quartiles 1, 2 and 3 and;
  • Using the median of values between the floor and highest value reported for quartile 4.

Step 3 -- Revision of Top Codes

In the final step, new and consistent top codes were calculated for the wealth data.

The NLSY79 has used three basic types of top coding algorithms for financial data. In the early years of the survey (up to 1988), every response above a specified ceiling value, such as $100,000 for some variables, is recoded to the ceiling value plus one dollar, such as $100,001. Unfortunately this algorithm results in a sharp downward bias in the sample mean because the right tail of the distribution is sharply truncated. From 1989 to 1994, a new algorithm was implemented, replacing all values above the hard ceiling with the average of all outlying values. Beginning in 1996, the hard ceiling value was eliminated and the average of the top 2% of values above the traditional hard ceiling was used as a topcode value.

In addition to the multiple topcoding methods used over time, some researchers commented on the lack of information above a hard ceiling. The data cleaning steps described above also dramatically changed a number of the highest asset values. For these reasons, home and vehicle values were re-topcoded. Homes and vehicles are clearly identifiable objects which pose the possibility of reidentifying respondents. Business-related values over $1,000,000 are also topcoded due to reidentification concerns. Other asset or debt categories are no longer topcoded because it is difficult to use them to identify a particular respondent. If the variable was previously topcoded it was re-topcoded using the top 2% of values as described above. 

Computed Net Wealth Variables

The current data release includes an updated set of net wealth variables. Unlike previous version of these items, these updated variables (named “TNFW_TRUNC”) do not incorporate imputations.

Below is a brief history and description of the variables that were used as components, sometimes combined by category, to create the TNFW_TRUNC figures. Information is still available on individual assets and debts for researchers who want to probe a particular aspect of a respondent’s financial life, such as their debts or ownership of vehicles. For a link to the programs used to create the TNFW_TRUNC variables, go to Programs Creating Total Net Family Wealth Variables.

Asset and debt questions were first introduced in 1985. They were included in each survey through the 1990s, with the exception of 1991. Beginning in 2000, the assets module has been included in alternating rounds. These questions solicit information about specific categories of assets and debt. The 1985 survey included questions about ten categories. In subsequent years, these categories were expanded. Through the 1990s, the values for each category were collected with a single question per category. In 2000 and beyond, multiple values were collected with respect to some categories, providing some additional definition to those categories. For instance, questions about home value were expanded to include the value of a secondary residence as well. A single question on stocks/bonds/mutual funds/etc. was split to ask individually about stock values, bond values, mutual fund values, etc. Questions on business values and debts were expanded to establish sole or joint ownership of the business and percentage of the business that respondents owned if applicable.

In the 2000 and subsequent surveys, respondents were also given the opportunity to provide estimates for some values of which they were unsure or for which they refused to report a precise figure. Respondents had the opportunity to report values within a bounded range (reporting a low and high value) and/or to report values simply over or under certain amounts (see description of unfolding brackets earlier in the appendix), enabling a range to be established. These estimates were incorporated into the TNFW_TRUNC values where available. Questions containing the string “_SR000001” and “_SR000002” contain values for low- and high-bounded ranges respondents may have reported. Questions containing the string “UAB_A”, “UAB_B” and “UAB_C” contain responses to unfolding brackets if the respondent reported estimates in that manner.  The exception is 2000, the introductory year, when only a few questions (Q13-122, Q13-123C and Q13-125) were followed by unfolding brackets if necessary.

The categories of assets and debt are listed below, along with the survey year in which they were introduced.

1) Home value (1985)
2) Mortgages (1985)
3) Other residential debt (1985)
4) Value of farm/business/real estate (1985)
5) Debts of farm/business/real estate  (1985)
6) Market value of vehicles (1985)
7) Debt of vehicles (1985)
8) Value of stocks/bonds/mutual funds (1988)
9) Value of CDs (1994)
10) Value of trusts (1988–2000 only)*
11) Value of IRAs (1994)
12) Value of 401ks and 403bs (1994)
13) Value of cash savings (1985)
14) Value of other assets like jewelry/collections (1985)
15) Value of all other debts like credit cards/student loans (1985)

*Trusts were dropped in 2000 as few respondents reported being trust fund recipients.

Table 2 lists the reference numbers, question names and titles from the 1996 survey for each of the categories, and the imputed variable created for each category:

Table 2. Round 17 (1996) Asset and Debt Variable Categories

Asset/Debt Category
(Imputed variables were used to compute the older NET_WORTH_[YR], variables, but  not the updated TNFW_TRUNC variables.  These use the truncated versions of the variables in the Qname column.)

R Num Root Qname (rev/trunc version used wherever exists) Description
Q13-118_REVISED  R57282.01 Q13-118 Mkt Val Res Property R-Sp Own 96
Q13-119 R57283.01 Q13-119 Amount R-Sp Owe On Res Property 96
Q13-120_REVISED R57284.01 Q13-120 Amt Oth Debt R-Sp Owes On Res Prop 96
Q13-122_REVISED R57286.01 Q13-122  Amount In Savings Accounts 96
Q13-123A_REVISED R57288.01 Q13-123A Amount In IRAs-Keough 96
Q13-123C_REVISED R57290.01 Q13-123C  

Amount In Tax-Defrd Plans 96

Q13-123E_REVISED R57292.01 Q13-123E Amount In CDs, Loans, Mortg 96
Q13-125_REVISED R57294.01  Q13-125 Mkt Val Of Stocks, Bonds R-Sp Have 96 
Q13-127_REVISED R57296.01 Q13-127  Total Val Of Estate, Invest Trust 96 
Q13-131_REVISED R57300.01 Q13-131 Ttl Mkt Val Farm, Bsns, Oth Prop? 96
Q13-132_REVISED R57301.01 Q13-132 Ttl Amt Debts, Liablty Farm, Bsns 96
Q13-135_REVISED R57304.01 Q13-135 Amt R-Sp Owe On Vehicles 96
Q13-136_REVISED R57305.01 Q13-136 Mkt Val Of Vehicles R-Sp Own 96
Q13-138_REVISED R57307.01 Q13-138 Ttl Mkt Val Items Over $500 96
Q13-140_REVISED R57309.01 Q13-140 Total Amt R-Sp Owe To Creditors 96

As an example, Table 3 lists the twelve variables used in 2004 to create the home value variable, as a component of "TNFW_TRUNC.”

Table 3: 2004 Home Value Variables

R Number

Qname

Title

R83792.00

NFA_1A_TRUNC

Mkt Val Res Property R/Sp Own 2004

R83793.00

NFA_1A_SR000001

Est Market Value Of Residential Property R/Spar Own

R83794.00

NFA_1A_SR000002

Est Market Value Of Residential Property R/Spar Own 

R83795.00

NFA_1A_UAB_A

Market Value Of Residence In 2003 More Than Entry Amount

R83795.10

NFA_1A_UAB_B

Market Value Of Residence In 2003 More Than $5k

R83796.00

NFA_1A_UAB_C

Market Value Of Residence In 2003 More Than $30k 

R83814.00

NFA_2A_TRUNC 

Market Value of (2nd) Residential Property R/Spouse Own 

R83814.00

NFA_2A_SR000001

Est Market Value Of (2nd) Residential Property R/Spar Own

R83815.00

NFA_2A_SR000002

Est Market Value Of (2nd) Residential Property R/Spar Own

R83816.00

NFA_2A_UAB_A 

Market Value Of (2nd) Residence In 2003 More Than Entry Amount 

R83816.10

NFA_2A_UAB_B

Market Value Of (2nd) Residence In 2003 More Than $5k 

R83817.00

NFA_2A_UAB_C 

Market Value Of (2nd) Residence In 2003 More Than $30k 

Table 4 lists the root variables included in the asset and debt categories starting with Round 21 (2004). While only the root question names are shown in Table 4, the additional bounded range and unfolding bracket estimate questions, shown in Table 3, are incorporated as well whenever applicable.

Table 4: Data Underlying Mid-Level Asset and Debt Categories Used Beginning in Round 21 (2004)

Asset/Debt Category

Rnum (the first Rnum is listed for sets of variables that fall in loops and have more than one occurrence) Root Qname (truncated version used wherever exists) Description
HOME/RESIDENTIAL  VALUE      
  R83792.00 NFA_1A Value of 1st Home
  R83814.00 NFA_2A Value of 2nd Home/Time Share
MORTGAGE      
  R83799.00 NFA_1B Mortgage on 1st Home
  R83820.00 NFA_2B Mortgage on 2nd Home/Time Share
PROPERTY DEBT      
  R83808.00 NFA_1C Other Property Debt on 1st Home
  R83827.00 NFA_2C Other Property Debt on 2nd Home/Time Share
CASH SAVINGS      
  R83630.00 FA_1A Total Amount In Checking, Savings, And Money Market Funds
STOCKS/BONDS      
  R83648.00 FA_3A Total Money If R-Spar Cashed In US Government Savings bonds
  R83657.00 FA_4A  Total Money If R-Spar Sold Mutual Funds
  R83666.00 FA_5A Total Money If Insurance Policies Cashed
  R83764.00 FA_9A Money R-Spar Have If Sold/Paid Amt Owe On Stock
  R83773.00 FA_10A  Amt Of $ If Cash/Pay Off Securities/ Bonds
  R83782.00 FA_11A R-Spouse/Partner Owed Money From Personal Or Mortgage Loans
TRUSTS      
      These variables contain only -4s and -5s after survey year 2000, since the trust asset value questions were not asked.
Because there was a chance the underlying questions would be brought back, the variables (all missing) are still present in several years after 2000 to preserve a consistent sequence.
BUSINESS ASSETS      
  R83868.00 Q13-FJT-11.## Market Value Of Farm in 2003,
Excluding Crops Held Under Commodity Credit Loans
  R83873.00 Q13-FJT-12B.##  Percentage Of Farm Owned By R Or Spouse
  R83896.00 Q13-BPPJT-11.##  Market Value Of Business Professional Practice 
  R83904.00 Q13-BPPJT-12B.##  Percentage Of Professional Practice That R Owns
  R83907.00 Q13-BPPJT-12E.## Market Value Of R Share Of Professional Practice
  R83927.00 Q13-REJT-11.##  Market Value Of Additional Real Estate 
  R83932.00 Q13-REJT-12B.##  Percentage Of Real Estate R-Spouse Own 
  R83936.00  Q13-REJT-12E.## Market Value Of R Share Of Real Estate 
  R83943.00 Q13-131  Total Market Value Of
Farm/Business/Other Property R/Spouse Own 
BUSINESS DEBT      
  R83869.00 Q13-FJT-12.##  Total Amount Of Debts Owed On Farm 
  R83900.00 Q13-BPPJT-12.##  Total Amount Of Debts Owed
On Professional Practice
  R83950.00 Q13-132  Total Amount Of Debts
On Farm/Business/Other Property R/Spouse Owe 
CAR VALUE      
  R83979.00 NFA_4C.## Market Value Of Vehicle 
  R83611.00  SC_12A.01.##  Current Value Of Vehicle
  R84105.00 NFA_5C Market Value Of Other Personal Use Vehicles 
CDs      
  R83639.00 FA_2A  Total Money If R-Spouse Cashed In
Certificate of Deposits/CDs 
CAR DEBT      
  R84080.00  NFA_4F.##  Total Amount Owed By R-Spouse
On Vehicle After Last Car Payment 
  R84098.00  NFA_5B  Total Amount Owed By R-Spar
On All Other Personal Use Vehicles 
  R83621.00 SC_12B.##  Balance Owed On Vehicle
After Last Payment 
POSSESSIONS      
  R84116.00 NFA_6E  Market Value Of Collections
Worth $1000 Or More 
  R84125.00 NFA_7D  Market Value Of Individual R-Spouse Items
Worth $1000 Or More 
OTHER DEBT      
  R84132.00 DEBT_1A  Total Balance Owed
On All Credit Card Accounts Together
  R84139.00 DEBT_2A  Total Amount R-Spouse Owes
On Student Loans
  R84147.00 DEBT_2D  Total Amount Owed
On Student Loans For Children 
  R84154.00 DEBT_3A Total Amount R-Spouse Owes To Other Businesses
After Most Recent Payment 
  R84161.00  DEBT_4A  Total Amount R-Spouse Owes Other Persons, Institutions, Companies to nearest $1000 
IRAs      
  R83733.00  FA_8D_TRUNC.##  Total Money If Tax Advantage Account Cashed
401Ks      
  R83683.00  FA_6E  Total Value Of Emp-Sponsored Retiremt Plans 
  R83700.00 FA_7C  Tot Balance Of Spar-Emp Sponsored Retiremt Plans 

 Researchers can find all the original respondent data (truncated where necessary) in the NLSY79 dataset in the NLS Investigator by searching the root qnames listed in the tables above.