Speakers
Description
As social scientists, economists investigate the determinants and consequences of decisions made by humans and by the institutions they create, across all areas of life. Given the breadth of their research, economists draw on a vast range of data sources, including their own surveys; laboratory, online and field experiments; publicly available datasets; administrative data; data collected by statistical authorities; and data from commercial providers. The diversity of data sources and types poses challenges common across the social sciences. A major challenge is accessing, harmonising and combining sensitive data from different sources while preserving privacy and ensuring data protection. To address this challenge, we propose establishing the Bonn Secure Microdata Infrastructure and developing it into a research data centre that can serve scholars across disciplines.