DEPARTMENT OF

Policy Analysis and Management



German Socio-Economic Panel

 
 
 
German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP)

The German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) is directed by Professor Dr. Gert G. Wagner at the German Institute for Economic Research (Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung [DIW]).

The GSOEP is a wide-ranging representative longitudinal study of private households in Germany. The same private households, persons and families have been surveyed yearly since 1984 (GSOEP "West"). As early as June 1990 — meaning before the monetary, economic and social union — the survey was extended to the territory of the former GDR (GSOEP "East"). The GSOEP data supply information on objective as well as subjective living conditions, on the process of change in various areas of life, and on the links between these areas and the changes themselves.

The advantages of the GSOEP are its unique analytical possibilities with regard to:

  • Longitudinal Data (panel design)
  • Household Context (all adult household members are surveyed)
  • Problem Groups (high number of respondents)
  • Foreigners (currently the largest repeated survey of foreigners in the FRG)

With funds from the National Institute on Aging Program Project #1-$03-AG21009-01, "Adding Health Variables to the Cross-National Equivalent File," the Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University has prepared an English User Version of the Public Use Sample of the GSOEP and, in conjunction with the University of Michigan and the DIW, the Cross-National Equivalent File 1980-2007. From this site you may also access an English Version of the GSOEP Questionnaires, 1984 to Present.

A Working Paper Series using GSOEP data has been developed entitled "Cross-National Studies in Aging Program Paper Series." A bibliography of GSOEP-based publications is also available.

The Department of Policy Analysis and Management and the DIW conduct annual Summer Workshops to introduce researchers to these databases and to provide a forum for papers currently using the GSOEP data.

GSOEP-CNEF User Workshop 2009 Information

For more information on the German Socio-Economic Panel, please contact:

GSOEP/CNEF Project Assistant
Cornell University
Department of Policy Analysis and Management
120 MVR Hall
Ithaca, New York
14853-4401 USA

Tel: +1-607-255-8012
FAX +1-607-255-4071
E-mail: GSOEP@cornell.edu