Notes on CPS Data Source and Variables

Source data: March 2002 (calendar year 2001) and March 2003 (calendar year 2002) Current Population Survey. All data are weighted with the March supplement weight, rescaled to millions of people.

Gender is determined using the variable A-SEX.

Age is determined using the variable A-AGE.

Race and Hispanic status is determined differently for 2002 and 2003 files:

In the 2002 files (calendar year 2001 data), we used the variables A-RACE and A-REORGN. In Tables 1 through 5, all race groups include Hispanics. In Tables 6 through 12, all non-Hispanic race groups (White, Black, American Indian, and Asian) exclude Hispanics.

In the 2003 files (calendar year 2002 data), we used the variables PRDTRACE and PEHSPNON. In Tables 1 through 5, all race groups include Hispanics. In Tables 6 through 12, all non-Hispanic race groups (White, Black, American Indian, Asian, and Biracial) exclude Hispanics, and all non-Biracial race groups (White, Black, American Indian, and Hispanic) exclude Biracial people.

Nativity and immigrant status are determined using the variables PRCITSHP, PEFNTVTY, and PEMNTVTY. People born in Puerto Rico and U.S. outlying areas and people born outside the U.S. to U.S. parents are considered native-born U.S. citizens. First-generation immigrants include all naturalized citizens and non-citizens. Second-generation immigrants include all native-born U.S. citizens with at least one parent born outside the U.S., Puerto Rico, or U.S. outlying areas. Persons of native parentage include all remaining native-born citizens.

Income as a percentage of the poverty level is determined using the variables FTOTVAL and POVLL.

Education is determined using the variable A-HGA.

Family composition is determined using several variables.

Families are identified by the variables PH-SEQ and PF-SEQ; this approach considers related subfamilies as part of primary families. One person in each family is designated the family head. In families that include the household head (designated by A-EXPRRP), the household head is designated the family head. In families that do not include the household head, the person in the family with the lowest line number (A-LINENO) is designated the family head.

A 1 adult family with children must include the head and own children of the head under age 19. It may include own children of the head over age 19. It may not include a spouse of head (present or absent). It may not include any person over age 19 who is not the head or one of the head's own children.

A 1 adult family without children must not include any people other than the head. This excludes families in which the head has an absent spouse. A 2 married adults family without children must include the head and the spouse of head. It may not include any person under age 19 other than the head or the spouse of head. It may include other people age 19 and over of any relation to the head. An "other" family without children is an family that a) does not include people under age 19 other than the head or the spouse of head; and b) does not meet the conditions for a 1 adult family without children or a 2 married adults family without children.

A 2 married adults family with children must include the head, the spouse of the head, and own children of the head under age 19. It may include other people of any age or relation to the head.
A family includes a spouse of head if a) there is a person in the family whose line number (A-LINENO) is equal to the spouse's line number (A-SPOUSE) of the family head; or b) the head's marital status (A-MARITL) is married, spouse absent (exc. separated). A person in a family is an own child of head if his parent's line number (A-PARENT) is equal to the head's line number (A-LINENO) or the head's spouse's line number (A-SPOUSE).

An "other" family with children is any family that a) includes people under age 19 other than the head or the spouse of head; and b) does not meet the conditions for a 1 adult family with children or a 2 married adults family with children.

Family work status is determined using several variables.

Families are identified by the variables PH-SEQ and PF-SEQ; this approach considers related subfamilies as part of primary families. A person in a family is a full-time worker if he is employed on a full-time schedule and is not self-employed. A person is a part-time worker if he is employed on a part-time schedule and is not self-employed. Those employed on a full-time schedule are determined using the variable A-WKSTAT; it includes those who, in the week before the interview, either worked 35 hours or more, worked 1-34 hours for noneconomic reasons (e.g., illness) and usually work full-time, or were "with a job but not at work" but usually work full-time. The self-employed are determined using the variable A-CLSWKR; it includes those who, in the week before the interview, were self-employed at their primary job.

Families with 2 or more full-time workers include all families with 2 or more full-time workers. Families with 1 full-time worker include all families with exactly 1 full-time worker. Families with only part-time workers include all families with no full-time workers and at least one part-time worker. Families with only self-employed include all families with no full-time or part-time workers and at least one self-employed person. Families with no workers include all remaining families.