Research Data Centers
Categories: Business creation and development; regional industries and economies
Overview: The Center for Economic Studies (CES), part of the U.S. Census Bureau, provides restricted access to longitudinal data from the Business Register, which is compiled from the quinquennial Economic Census and business surveys.
Units of Analysis: Firm and establishment
Coverage: Varies on survey and data analyzed
Size: Over 8 million business records in 2009
Form: Longitudinal microdatabase
Timeframe: Varies on survey and data analyzed, many predate 1980
Frequency: Depends on dataset—updated monthly, quarterly, annually, or every five years
Additional Datasets Available for Linkage: Census demographic and decennial data. Patent and export datasets expected.
Access: Researchers must apply for access to the Research Data Centers (RDC) to gain special sworn status from the Census.
Potential Uses for Regional Analysis: Recent research topics include the impact of trade, venture capital financing, and rural entrepreneurship
For Additional Information:
- Website: RDC Research Opportunities
- Contact: Local RDC administrator where data access will occur