Arbeitspapier
The CPS Citizenship Question and Survey Refusals: Causal and Semi-Causal Evidence Featuring a Two-Stage Regression Discontinuity Design
The unsuccessful attempt to add a citizenship question to the Census has drawn attention to citizenship questions on other surveys. Simultaneously, researchers have noted a recent increase in Current Population Survey non-response. We combine these topics, studying the effect of the CPS citizenship question on refusals. We use the question's sudden introduction in 1994 as a natural experiment and obtain causal estimates via a regression discontinuity design (RDD). In January 1994, we find an immediate and sustained 20-50% jump in refusals. However, this cannot be attributed to the question alone, as numerous other survey characteristics were revised. We employ a two-stage RDD to relate state-specific refusal discontinuities to state characteristics. Discontinuity size is positively related to non-citizen and Hispanic populations, and a proxy for citizenship question item non-response. An 8% increase in refusals is potentially attributable to the question. Moreover, at the threshold, there is weak evidence of a discrete decrease in states' reported Hispanic populations. When non-citizenship is observable, state non-citizen population is positively related with refusals. These results imply the question makes non-citizens and Hispanics reluctant to take the survey. We recommend there be a trial to precisely estimate the question's effects, and decide if it merits continuation.
- Language
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Englisch
- Bibliographic citation
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Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 13350
- Classification
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Wirtschaft
Single Equation Models; Single Variables: Panel Data Models; Spatio-temporal Models
Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
- Subject
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current population survey
non-response
survey refusal
citizenship status
immigration
Regression Discontinuity
panel data
- Event
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Geistige Schöpfung
- (who)
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Bernhardt, Robert
Wunnava, Phanindra V.
- Event
-
Veröffentlichung
- (who)
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Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
- (where)
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Bonn
- (when)
-
2020
- Handle
- Last update
-
10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET
Data provider
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. If you have any questions about the object, please contact the data provider.
Object type
- Arbeitspapier
Associated
- Bernhardt, Robert
- Wunnava, Phanindra V.
- Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
Time of origin
- 2020
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