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Title

paverage --- Generates series of averages in a panel dataset.

Syntax

paverage varlist, p(#) indiv(varname) yr(varname)

Description

paverage (pronounced p-average) generates series of averages in a panel dataset. In the process, the labels of the original variables, if present, are attached to the average variables. The time period must be a multiple of the subperiod over which averages need to be calculated. Using series of averages is a common way of reducing business-cycle effects and measurement error when analyzing a panel dataset with a long time period.

A side-effect of taking variable averages is that some variations in the data will be lost.

Note that paverage works on any yearly compiled balanced panel datasets.

Options

+---------+ ----+ Options +----------------------------------------------------------

p(#) indicates the number of years over which averages need to be calculated. # ranges from 2 to 10. For example, specifying p(5) will create a 5-year average dataset.

indiv(varname) indicates the identifier variable which may hold country, individual, or firm names or identification numbers.

yr(varname) specifies the variable containing the years.

+---------+ ----+ Example +----------------------------------------------------------

. paverage gdp fdi import trade, p(5) indiv(countryname) yr(year)

Author

P. Wilner Jeanty, Dept. of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, The Ohio State University

Email to jeanty.1@osu.edu for any comments or suggestions.

Also see

Manual: [D] collapse