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In this user-friendly introduction, European and American experts in the field join forces to explain what panel studies can achieve and to illustrate some of the potential pitfalls in the construction and analysis of panel data. Household panel studies provide one of the most significant national and international resources for analysing social and economic change. This is an essential and accessible introduction for those contemplating the use of panel studies for the first time and will be an invaluable resource for both practising researchers and the commissioners of research

Abstract
Adaptive survey design has been proposed as a solution to the decreasing response rates and higher costs associated with surveys. Much of the adaptive survey design research to date focuses on cross-sectional surveys, yet it seems there is greater potential for this approach within longitudinal surveys as data on the respondent and their survey experience builds each wave. We consider the short- to medium-term impacts of modifications to fieldwork processes in the context of two household panels. We use waves 11–16 of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey and waves 1–6 of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (also known as Understanding Society) to simulate eight alternative follow-up strategies. Cases are targeted based on their likelihood to improve sample balance (representativeness), as measured by the R-indicator, or to provide a response, or a combination of these components. Both individual- and household-level targeting are considered. We assess the extent to which these adjustments to fieldwork efforts impact the response rates, sample representativity, and cost. We find that if the follow-up fieldwork effort were reduced by 25 percent the least detrimental strategy is where the best households in terms of improving the R-indicator or the response rates are issued to field for follow-up. This approach resulted in the same sample balance as obtained with full follow-up practice, saved between 17 and 25 percent of follow-up calls but dropped the full balanced panel response rate over four years by 8–12 percentage points.

AbstractThe paper examines whether the poverty transition or poverty persistency in India, as well as in Indian rural states, is due to state dependence or unobserved heterogeneity. Using panel data from the India Human Development Survey for 2005 and 2012, the study found that structural chronic poverty is high in Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. Furthermore, general caste and scheduled tribe households have achieved upward mobility due to structural reasons whereas other backward class households have made a stochastic transition and come out of poverty. The bivariate Probit model suggests that there exists a state dependence of the probability of being poor; meaning that past poverty experience does matter in determining the present poverty status of a given household in India. The findings also indicate that female education is one of the important indicators for moving out of poverty. Hence, a crucial policy decision is needed for reducing poverty in a more sustainable way, which will include a targeted social safety net program along with improving the skill level of the household.

The proportion of working pensioners in Russia is high relative to what is usually observed in several Eastern and Western European countries. In this paper, we present an analysis of the determinants of pensioner employment, using panel data from the on‐going Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey for the period 1994‐99. Given the sharp deterioration in the safety net in recent years, a particular attempt is made to assess the role of inadequate pension benefits, along with other individual, household, and local labour market characteristics, in driving up the employment rate of older people during transition. Both the probability of holding a job and the number of hours worked are modeled. The microeconometric analysis confirms the role that family income and access to alternative coping mechanisms such as subsistence farming play in pensioner employment for women, but also stresses for both men and women the importance of age, education, and health status. Finally, the results show a low sensitivity of pensioner employment to pension arrears and pension benefits, indicating that even the full payment of benefits may be too low to significantly affect the decision to remain in employment.JEL classification: C33, H55, J14, J21, P36.

AbstractThe China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) is a large‐scale multidisciplinary social survey started in 2010 and followed‐up every two years since, covering 25 provinces, representing 95 per cent of the Chinese population. Through tracking of individuals, families and communities over time, the CFPS provides high‐quality longitudinal data for academic/scientific investigation and policy research in important areas such as Chinese society, economy, population, education and health. This article outlines the structure and components of the CFPS, with a focus on the recent changes in survey mode, questionnaire design and data dissemination.