Cohort Data

This page provides a general documentation of methods used to convert cross-sectional data to cohort data.

Converting Cross-Sectional to Cohort Data

For most countries, data is provided for a series of cross-sectional samples. However, it is often desirable to be able to follow the movements of a particular group over time. A simple description of the method used for converting cross-sectional data into cohort data follows.

Cohort data consists of observations in the cross-sectional data which follow cohorts' progression. For data on the cohort born in year t, the cohort's observations of variable x can be expressed as $x(i,t+i) \text{ where } i=0,...\omega$ and $\omega$ is the oldest age.

The following Excel spreadsheet was used in converting consumption and labor income data for Taiwan: Cohort template. An example of converted data can be found on the methods page for Labor Income.

Comments about converting cross-sectional to cohort data: