For capturing dynamic demographic relationships, longitudinal household data can have considerable advantages over more widely used cross-sectional data. But because the collection of longitudinal data may be difficult and expensive, analysts must assess the magnitudes of the problems, specific...

Panel data often provide an understanding of household behavior not possible with cross-sectional information alone. However, a disturbing feature of such data is that there can be substantial, nonrandom attrition and many analysts share the concern that this inhibits the ability to make...