Description

POVIMP3 is a variable that includes imputed values to replace missing data for the original variable POVERTY, which reports the ratio of family income to the U.S. Census Bureau's poverty thresholds for the year in question. Values were imputed for families who did not supply adequate income information and for families where the number of children equaled the number of family members. (See POVIMP1 for a more detailed discussion.) The complementary imputation flag variable IMPOVFLAG3 indicates whether responses in POVIMP3 were reported or imputed.

Related Variables and Sources of Additional Information

POVIMP3 is the third of five variables with imputed values for the ratio of family income to the poverty threshold. It was created as part of a set of variables that provide complete (i.e., without missing values) data on family income.

Before using the imputed income and earnings variables, researchers are strongly advised to read the NCHS documentation on imputed income.

Comparability

POVIMP3 is largely comparable over time. For 2009 forward, POVIMP1 is harmonized by the IPUMS NHIS staff from the NHIS poverty ratio variable (POVRATI2) estimated to the second decimal place and for the third decimal place for 2010 (POVRATI3).
Researchers should also be aware of changes in the methodology for collecting data on family income, which affect the original POVERTY variable and thus its imputed income POVIMP counterparts. See POVIMP1 for a description of these changes.

Universe

Availability

• 1997-2018

Weights

• 1997-2018 : PERWEIGHT