Implementing IPUMS-International Confidentiality Protocols using CSPro/IMPS: 1991 Census Microdata of Saint Lucia

Type Conference Paper - 17th Meeting of the Regional Census Coordinating Committee (RCCC, CARICOM), Castries, Saint Lucia, October 2009
Title Implementing IPUMS-International Confidentiality Protocols using CSPro/IMPS: 1991 Census Microdata of Saint Lucia
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2009
City Castries
Country/State Saint Lucia
URL http://users.pop.umn.edu/~rmccaa/ipumsi_doc_confidentiality_imps.pdf
Abstract
Confidentiality protections for census microdata depend not only on the sensitivity and heterogeneity
of the data, but also on the potential users. It is widely recognized that statistical agencies expend substantial
effort to protect microdata from misuse by academics, their most trust-worthy users. The IPUMS-International
project, by disseminating only integrated, anonymized microdata and restricting access to licensed academic
users, shifts the risk-utility curve sharply rightward—substantially increasing utility with only marginal
increments in risk. This paper discusses legal, administrative and technical protocols of the IPUMSInternational
project. In addition, we discuss an experiment to implement IPUMSi technical protocols using ,
first CSPro, then IMPS. The 1991 census microdata of Saint Lucia is used as an example. For statistical offices
that wish to implement technical anonymization measures, this experiment may be of interest.

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