Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/302671 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17154
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
It is increasingly common in empirical research to merge data sets containing different units of observation. When the units are not nested, a crosswalk specifying how the units from one data source are allocated to the units of the other is needed. Unfortunately, most crosswalks are ad hoc, a fact that is often ignored by researchers and has not caught the attention of econometricians. Here, I show that use of an incorrect crosswalk induces measurement error that is necessarily nonclassical and can be consequential. I discuss and illustrate the ramifications of using a flawed crosswalk, present two specification tests, offer potential solutions, and provide an application to the effects of social media on political polarization.
Subjects: 
crosswalk
nonclassical measurement error
social media
polarization
JEL: 
C18
C81
D72
J16
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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