Microdata from government agencies is believed to be valuable for economics research, and yet access to this data is highly restricted due to concerns about privacy and security. We provide an empirical assessment of the use and impact of restricted-access data that researchers can analyze at the U.S. Census Bureau's secure facilities. Our findings show that the use of Census Bureau's confidential data is growing and the publications employing it have a higher impact on the scientific and policy debate. However, adoption remains largely limited to established researchers from prestigious institutions. Our results and discussion inform the design of policies that balance privacy protection with accessibility to confidential microdata.

These folders and files document the necessary steps to replicate all results in the paper and appendix of: “Heavy Tailed, but not Zipf: Firm and Establishment Size in the U.S.” by Illenin O. Kondo, Logan T. Lewis, and Andrea Stella.

DATA SOURCES

The tables and figures of this paper are produced using two different types of data: 1. Restricted-access microdata. This data is not provided in the replication files.

The Census Bureau's Disclosure Review Board and Disclosure Avoidance Officers have reviewed this information product for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and have approved the disclosure avoidance practices applied to this release. This research was performed at a Federal Statistical Research Data Center under FSRDC Project Number 2427 (CBDRB-FY22-P2427-R9685). We also include in the paper data from disclosures released under Project Number 1287 on 2017-08-30 (request 5949), 2017-09-08 (request 5949), 2017-12-12 (request 6227), and 2018-06-11 (request 6810).

Researchers with access to the LBD and CMF can use the references above to request access to the code used to produce the results disclosed from the RDC. To gain access to the Census microdata, follow the directions on how to write a proposal for access to the data via a Federal Statistical Research Data Center: https://www.census.gov/topics/research/guidance/restricted-use-microdata/standard-application-process.html.

1. Business Dynamics Statistics (BDS): This data is publicly available from the Census Bureau at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds.html

TABLES AND FIGURES

For each table and figure, we specify whether the code is available in this replication packet or within the Census RDC.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The 1961 Census Microdata for Great Britain: 9% Sample: Secure Access dataset was created from existing digital records from the 1961 Census. It comprises a larger population sample than the other files available from the 1961 Census (see below) and so contains sufficient information to constitute personal data, meaning that it is only available to Accredited Researchers, under restrictive Secure Access conditions. See Access section for further details.

The file was created under a project known as Enhancing and Enriching Historic Census Microdata Samples (EEHCM), which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with input from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. The project ran from 2012-2014 and was led from the UK Data Archive, University of Essex, in collaboration with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMIST) at the University of Manchester and the Census Offices. In addition to the 1961 data, the team worked on files from the 1971 Census and 1981 Census.

The original 1961 records preceded current data archival standards and were created before microdata sets for secondary use were anticipated. A process of data recovery and quality checking was necessary to maximise their utility for current researchers, though some imperfections remain (see the User Guide for details).

Three other 1961 Census datasets have been created; users should obtain the other datasets in the series first to see whether they are sufficient for their research needs before considering making an application for this study (SN 8275), the Secure Access version:

• SN 8272 - 1961 Census Microdata Individual File for Great Britain: 5% Sample, which contains information on individuals in larger local authorities;
• SN 8273 - 1961 Census Microdata Household File for Great Britain: 0.95% Sample, which links household members together to allow individuals to be understood within their household context. SNs 8272 and 8273 are both available to registered UK Data Service users based in the United Kingdom (see Access section for non-UK access restrictions); and
• SN 8274 - 1961 Census Microdata Teaching Dataset for Great Britain: 1% Sample: Open Access, which can be used as a taster file and is freely available for anyone to download under an Open Government Licence.

Main Topics:

The file contains information on individuals in local authorities and counties. Topics covered include demographics, for example family and household circumstances, employment and qualifications, migration, commuting, car ownership, and housing.

The 1981 Census Microdata Teaching Dataset for Great Britain: 1% Sample: Open Access dataset was created from existing digital records from the 1981 Census. It can be used as a 'taster' file for 1981 Census data and is freely available for anyone to download under an Open Government Licence.

The file was created under a project known as Enhancing and Enriching Historic Census Microdata Samples (EEHCM), which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with input from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. The project ran from 2012-2014 and was led from the UK Data Archive, University of Essex, in collaboration with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMIST) at the University of Manchester and the Census Offices. In addition to the 1981 data, the team worked on files from the 1961 Census and 1971 Census.

The original 1981 records preceded current data archival standards and were created before microdata sets for secondary use were anticipated. A process of data recovery and quality checking was necessary to maximise their utility for current researchers, though some imperfections remain (see the User Guide for details). Three other 1981 Census datasets have been created:

• SN 8241 - 1981 Census Microdata Individual File for Great Britain: 5% Sample, which contains information on individuals in larger local authorities;
• SN 8242 - 1981 Census Microdata Household File for Great Britain: 0.95% Sample, which links household members together to allow individuals to be understood within their household context. SNs 8241 and 8242 are both available to registered UK Data Service users based in the United Kingdom (see Access section for non-UK access restrictions); and
• SN 8248 - 1981 Census Microdata for Great Britain: 9% Sample: Secure Access, which comprises a larger population sample and so contains sufficient information to constitute personal data, meaning that it is only available to Accredited Researchers, under restrictive Secure Access conditions.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The 1981 Census Microdata Individual File for Great Britain: 5% Sample dataset was created from existing digital records from the 1981 Census under a project known as Enhancing and Enriching Historic Census Microdata Samples (EEHCM), which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with input from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. The project ran from 2012-2014 and was led from the UK Data Archive, University of Essex, in collaboration with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMIST) at the University of Manchester and the Census Offices. In addition to the 1981 data, the team worked on files from the 1961 Census and 1971 Census.

The original 1981 records preceded current data archival standards and were created before microdata sets for secondary use were anticipated. A process of data recovery and quality checking was necessary to maximise their utility for current researchers, though some imperfections remain (see the User Guide for details). Three other 1981 Census datasets have been created:

• SN 8242 - 1981 Census Microdata Household File for Great Britain: 0.95% Sample, which links household members together to allow individuals to be understood within their household context, and is available to registered UK Data Service users based in the United Kingdom (see Access section for non-UK access restrictions);
• SN 8243 - 1981 Census Microdata Teaching Dataset for Great Britain: 1% Sample: Open Access, which can be used as a taster file and is freely available for anyone to download under an Open Government Licence; and
• SN 8248 - 1981 Census Microdata for Great Britain: 9% Sample: Secure Access, which comprises a larger population sample and so contains sufficient information to constitute personal data, meaning that it is only available to Accredited Researchers, under restrictive Secure Access conditions.

Main Topics:

The file contains information on individuals in larger local authorities. Topics covered include demographics, for example family and household circumstances, employment and qualifications, migration, commuting, car ownership, and housing.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The 1961 Census Microdata Household File for Great Britain: 0.95% Sample dataset was created from existing digital records from the 1961 Census under a project known as Enhancing and Enriching Historic Census Microdata Samples (EEHCM), which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with input from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. The project ran from 2012-2014 and was led from the UK Data Archive, University of Essex, in collaboration with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMIST) at the University of Manchester and the Census Offices. In addition to the 1961 data, the team worked on files from the 1971 Census and 1981 Census.

The original 1961 records preceded current data archival standards and were created before microdata sets for secondary use were anticipated. A process of data recovery and quality checking was necessary to maximise their utility for current researchers, though some imperfections remain (see the User Guide for details). Three other 1961 Census datasets have been created:

• SN 8272 - 1961 Census Microdata Individual File for Great Britain: 5% Sample, which contains information on individuals in larger local authorities, and is available to registered UK Data Service users based in the United Kingdom (see Access section for non-UK access restrictions);
• SN 8274 - 1961 Census Microdata Teaching Dataset for Great Britain: 1% Sample: Open Access, which can be used as a taster file and is freely available for anyone to download under an Open Government Licence; and
• SN 8275 - 1961 Census Microdata for Great Britain: 9% Sample: Secure Access, which comprises a larger population sample and so contains sufficient information to constitute personal data, meaning that it is only available to Accredited Researchers, under restrictive Secure Access conditions.

Main Topics:

The file links household members together to allow individuals to be understood within their household context. Topics covered include demographics, for example family and household circumstances, employment and qualifications, migration, commuting, car ownership, and housing.

The 1971 Census Microdata for Great Britain: 9% Sample: Secure Access dataset was created from existing digital records from the 1971 Census. It comprises a larger population sample than the other files available from the 1971 Census (see below) and so contains sufficient information to constitute personal data, meaning that it is only available to Accredited Researchers, under restrictive Secure Access conditions. See Access section for further details.

The file was created under a project known as Enhancing and Enriching Historic Census Microdata Samples (EEHCM), which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with input from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. The project ran from 2012-2014 and was led from the UK Data Archive, University of Essex, in collaboration with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMIST) at the University of Manchester and the Census Offices. In addition to the 1971 data, the team worked on files from the 1961 Census and 1981 Census.

The original 1971 records preceded current data archival standards and were created before microdata sets for secondary use were anticipated. A process of data recovery and quality checking was necessary to maximise their utility for current researchers, though some imperfections remain (see the User Guide for details).

Three other 1971 Census datasets have been created; users should obtain the other datasets in the series first to see whether they are sufficient for their research needs before considering making an application for this study (SN 8271), the Secure Access version:

• SN 8268 - 1971 Census Microdata Individual File for Great Britain: 5% Sample, which contains information on individuals in larger local authorities;
• SN 8269 - 1971 Census Microdata Household File for Great Britain: 0.95% Sample, which links household members together to allow individuals to be understood within their household context. SNs 8268 and 8269 are both available to registered UK Data Service users based in the United Kingdom (see Access section for non-UK access restrictions); and
• SN 8270 - 1971 Census Microdata Teaching Dataset for Great Britain: 1% Sample: Open Access, which can be used as a taster file and is freely available for anyone to download under an Open Government Licence.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is committed to upholding the principles and intentions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and related nondiscrimination statutes in all of the Commission’s work, including publications, products, communications, public input, and decision-making processes. Language barriers may prohibit people who are Limited in English Proficiency (also known as LEP persons) from obtaining services, information, or participating in public planning processes. To better identify LEP populations and thoroughly evaluate the Commission’s efforts to provide meaningful access, DVRPC has produced this Limited-English Proficiency Plan. This is the data that was used to make the maps for the upcoming plan. Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA), are geographies of at least 100,000 people that are nested within states or equivalent entities. States are able to delineate PUMAs within their borders, or use PUMA Criteria provided by the Census Bureau. Census tables used to gather data from the 2019- 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates ACS 2019-2023, Table B16001: Language Spoken at Home by Ability to Speak English for the Population 5 Years and Over. ACS data are derived from a survey and are subject to sampling variablity.

*Limited English Proficiency (LEP) refers to those persons that speak English less than "very well". DVRPC has mapped the below Language Groups for our Plan.

Spanish

Russian

Chinese

Korean

Vietnamese Source of PUMA boundaries: US Census Bureau. The TIGER/Line Files Please refer to U:_OngoingProjects\LEP\ACS_5YR_B16001_PUMAs_metadata.xlsx for full attribute loop up and fields used in making the DVRPC LEP Map Series. Please contact Chris Pollard (cpollard@dvrpc.org) should you have any questions about this dataset.

The 2010 Census Production Settings Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Demonstration Noisy Measurement Files are an intermediate output of the 2020 Census Disclosure Avoidance System (DAS) TopDown Algorithm (TDA) (as described in Abowd, J. et al [2022], and implemented in https://github.com/uscensusbureau/DAS_2020_Redistricting_Production_Code). The NMF was produced using the official "production settings," the final set of algorithmic parameters and privacy-loss budget allocations that were used to produce the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File and the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File. The NMF consists of the full set of privacy-protected statistical queries (counts of individuals or housing units with particular combinations of characteristics) of confidential 2010 Census data relating to the redistricting data portion of the 2010 Demonstration Data Products Suite - Redistricting and Demographic and Housing Characteristics File - Production Settings (2023-04-03). These statistical queries, called "noisy measurements" were produced under the zero-Concentrated Differential Privacy framework (Bun, M. and Steinke, T [2016]; see also Dwork C. and Roth, A. [2014]) implemented via the discrete Gaussian mechanism (Cannone C., et al., [2023]), which added positive or negative integer-valued noise to each of the resulting counts. The noisy measurements are an intermediate stage of the TDA prior to the post-processing the TDA then performs to ensure internal and hierarchical consistency within the resulting tables. The Census Bureau has released these 2010 Census demonstration data to enable data users to evaluate the expected impact of disclosure avoidance variability on 2020 Census data. The 2010 Census Production Settings Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Demonstration Noisy Measurement Files (2023-04-03) have been cleared for public dissemination by the Census Bureau Disclosure Review Board (CBDRB-FY22-DSEP-004). The data include zero-Concentrated Differentially Private (zCDP) (Bun, M. and Steinke, T [2016]) noisy measurements, implemented via the discrete Gaussian mechanism. These are estimated counts of individuals and housing units included in the 2010 Census Edited File (CEF), which includes confidential data initially collected in the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. The noisy measurements included in this file were subsequently post-processed by the TopDown Algorithm (TDA) to produce the 2010 Census Production Settings Privacy-Protected Microdata File - Redistricting (P.L. 94-171) and Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (2023-04-03) (https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/program-management/data-product- planning/2010-demonstration-data-products/04 Demonstration_Data_Products_Suite/2023-04-03/). As these 2010 Census demonstration data are intended to support study of the design and expected impacts of the 2020 Disclosure Avoidance System, the 2010 CEF records were pre-processed before application of the zCDP framework. This pre-processing converted the 2010 CEF records into the input-file format, response codes, and tabulation categories used for the 2020 Census, which differ in substantive ways from the format, response codes, and tabulation categories originally used for the 2010 Census. The NMF provides estimates of counts of persons in the CEF by various characteristics and combinations of characteristics, including their reported race and ethnicity, whether they were of voting age, whether they resided in a housing unit or one of 7 group quarters types, and their census block of residence, after the addition of discrete Gaussian noise (with the scale parameter determined by the privacy-loss budget allocation for that particular query under zCDP). Noisy measurements of the counts of occupied and vacant housing units by census block are also included. Lastly, data on constraints--information into which no noise was infused by the Disclosure Avoidance System (DAS) and used by the TDA to post-process the noisy measurements into the 2010 Census Production Settings Privacy-Protected Microdata File - Redistricting (P.L. 94-171) and Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (2023-04-03) --are provided. These data are available for download (i.e. not restricted access). Due to their size, they must be downloaded through the link on this

The 1981 Census Microdata Individual File for Great Britain: 5% Sample dataset was created from existing digital records from the 1981 Census under a project known as Enhancing and Enriching Historic Census Microdata Samples (EEHCM), which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with input from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. The project ran from 2012-2014 and was led from the UK Data Archive, University of Essex, in collaboration with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMIST) at the University of Manchester and the Census Offices. In addition to the 1981 data, the team worked on files from the 1961 Census and 1971 Census.

The original 1981 records preceded current data archival standards and were created before microdata sets for secondary use were anticipated. A process of data recovery and quality checking was necessary to maximise their utility for current researchers, though some imperfections remain (see the User Guide for details). Three other 1981 Census datasets have been created:

• SN 8242 - 1981 Census Microdata Household File for Great Britain: 0.95% Sample, which links household members together to allow individuals to be understood within their household context, and is available to registered UK Data Service users based in the United Kingdom (see Access section for non-UK access restrictions);
• SN 8243 - 1981 Census Microdata Teaching Dataset for Great Britain: 1% Sample: Open Access, which can be used as a taster file and is freely available for anyone to download under an Open Government Licence; and
• SN 8248 - 1981 Census Microdata for Great Britain: 9% Sample: Secure Access, which comprises a larger population sample and so contains sufficient information to constitute personal data, meaning that it is only available to Accredited Researchers, under restrictive Secure Access conditions.

The 1961 Census Microdata Household File for Great Britain: 0.95% Sample dataset was created from existing digital records from the 1961 Census under a project known as Enhancing and Enriching Historic Census Microdata Samples (EEHCM), which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with input from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. The project ran from 2012-2014 and was led from the UK Data Archive, University of Essex, in collaboration with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMIST) at the University of Manchester and the Census Offices. In addition to the 1961 data, the team worked on files from the 1971 Census and 1981 Census.

The original 1961 records preceded current data archival standards and were created before microdata sets for secondary use were anticipated. A process of data recovery and quality checking was necessary to maximise their utility for current researchers, though some imperfections remain (see the User Guide for details). Three other 1961 Census datasets have been created:

• SN 8272 - 1961 Census Microdata Individual File for Great Britain: 5% Sample, which contains information on individuals in larger local authorities, and is available to registered UK Data Service users based in the United Kingdom (see Access section for non-UK access restrictions);
• SN 8274 - 1961 Census Microdata Teaching Dataset for Great Britain: 1% Sample: Open Access, which can be used as a taster file and is freely available for anyone to download under an Open Government Licence; and
• SN 8275 - 1961 Census Microdata for Great Britain: 9% Sample: Secure Access, which comprises a larger population sample and so contains sufficient information to constitute personal data, meaning that it is only available to Accredited Researchers, under restrictive Secure Access conditions.

The 2010 Census Production Settings Demographic and Housing Characteristics Demonstration Noisy Measurement File (2023-04-03) is an intermediate output of the 2020 Census Disclosure Avoidance System (DAS) TopDown Algorithm (TDA) (as described in Abowd, J. et al [2022], and implemented in DAS 2020 Redistricting Production Code). The NMF was produced using the official "production settings," the final set of algorithmic parameters and privacy-loss budget allocations, that were used to produce the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File and the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File. The NMF consists of the full set of privacy-protected statistical queries (counts of individuals or housing units with particular combinations of characteristics) of confidential 2010 Census data relating to the 2010 Demonstration Data Products Suite - Redistricting and Demographic and Housing Characteristics File - Production Settings (2023-04-03). These statistical queries, called "noisy measurements" were produced under the zero-Concentrated Differential Privacy framework (Bun, M. and Steinke, T [2016]; see also Dwork C. and Roth, A. [2014]) implemented via the discrete Gaussian mechanism (Cannone C., et al., [2023]), which added positive or negative integer-valued noise to each of the resulting counts. The noisy measurements are an intermediate stage of the TDA prior to the post-processing the TDA then performs to ensure internal and hierarchical consistency within the resulting tables. The Census Bureau has released these 2010 Census demonstration data to enable data users to evaluate the expected impact of disclosure avoidance variability on 2020 Census data. The 2010 Census Production Settings Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC) Demonstration Noisy Measurement File (2023-04-03) has been cleared for public dissemination by the Census Bureau Disclosure Review Board (CBDRB-FY22-DSEP-004). The 2010 Census Production Settings Demographic and Housing Characteristics Demonstration Noisy Measurement File (2023-04-03) includes zero-Concentrated Differentially Private (zCDP) (Bun, M. and Steinke, T [2016]) noisy measurements, implemented via the discrete Gaussian mechanism. These are estimated counts of individuals and housing units included in the 2010 Census Edited File (CEF), which includes confidential data initially collected in the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. The noisy measurements included in this file were subsequently post-processed by the TopDown Algorithm (TDA) to produce the 2010 Census Production Settings Privacy-Protected Microdata File - Redistricting (P.L. 94-171) and Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (2023-04-03) (Demonstration Data Products Suite/2023-04-03/). As these 2010 Census demonstration data are intended to support study of the design and expected impacts of the 2020 Disclosure Avoidance System, the 2010 CEF records were pre-processed before application of the zCDP framework. This pre-processing converted the 2010 CEF records into the input-file format, response codes, and tabulation categories used for the 2020 Census, which differ in substantive ways from the format, response codes, and tabulation categories originally used for the 2010 Census. The NMF provides estimates of counts of persons in the CEF by various characteristics and combinations of characteristics including their reported race and ethnicity, whether they were of voting age, whether they resided in a housing unit or one of 7 group quarters types, and their census block of residence after the addition of discrete Gaussian noise (with the scale parameter determined by the privacy-loss budget allocation for that particular query under zCDP). Noisy measurements of the counts of occupied and vacant housing units by census block are also included. Lastly, data on constraints--information into which no noise was infused by the Disclosure Avoidance System (DAS) and used by the TDA to post-process the noisy measurements into the 2010 Census Production Settings Privacy-Protected Microdata File - Redistricting (P.L. 94-171) and Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (2023-04-03) --are provided. These data are available for download (i.e. not restricted access). Due to their size, they must be downloaded through the link on this metadata page and not through the standard ICPSR downloa