*! version 1.0.0 21 Apr 2026

Title

m69tom4 -- Recode MTUS Main 69 activity categories into 4 broad activity groups

Syntax

m69tom4 varname, gen(newvar)

varname numeric variable coded in the MTUS Main 69 activity scheme

gen(newvar) name of the new recoded variable to create; required

Description

m69tom4 recodes an activity variable from the MTUS Main 69 scheme into a simpler variable with 4 broad activity groups.

This is useful when a more aggregated activity classification is sufficient for descriptive work, figures, or summary analysis.

The command creates a new variable specified in gen() and assigns it one of four categories:

1 = personal

2 = paid

3 = unpaid

4 = leisure

A value label is attached to the generated variable.

Arguments

varname must be a numeric variable coded in the MTUS Main 69 activity scheme.

gen(newvar) specifies the name of the new variable to be created.

How categories are recoded

The mapping used by m69tom4 is:

New category

1 personal original codes 1 to 6

2 paid original codes 7 to 16, 63, and 64

3 unpaid original codes 18 to 32, 66, and 67

4 leisure original code 17, original codes 33 to 62, and codes 65 and 68

Original code 69 is recoded to system missing.

What the command creates

m69tom4 creates a new numeric variable named in gen().

The new variable receives the value label:

1 -- personal

2 -- paid

3 -- unpaid

4 -- leisure

The generated variable also receives the variable label:

4-activity code in MTUS

Examples

Example 1: Recode a Main 69 activity variable

. m69tom4 main69, gen(main4)

This creates main4, a four-category version of main69.

Example 2: Tabulate the new groups

. m69tom4 activity, gen(activity4)

. tab activity4

Remarks

1. Input must be numeric

The command requires a numeric input variable. If the source activity variable is stored as a string, convert it before using m69tom4.

2. The original variable is not modified

m69tom4 leaves the source variable unchanged and creates a new recoded variable.

3. Code 69 becomes missing

Original code 69 is recoded to system missing in the generated variable.

Stored results

m69tom4 does not store results in r() or e(). Results are returned through the created variable.

Author

Juana Lamote de Grignon-Pérez

Centre for Time Use Research (CTUR)

Also see

Other small recode utilities in the same toolkit provide similar crosswalks for alternative activity classifications.