Micro-data vs PUMF

One of the difficulties with longitudinal data files has been to find a way to produce public-use microdata files that contain sufficient detail for researchers, while safeguarding the privacy of respondents. Where PUMF (Public Use Microdata File) are freely available to institutions and individuals, micro-data available in the QICSS laboratory are finer and allows for deeper analysis, while still protecting respondents' privacy. Micro-data also offers much more detailed geographical information, for example, the census' publicly available files give information about 33 metropolitan areas (~ 100,000 individuals) whereas the files available in our laboratory offers information on 54,000 dissemination areas (~400-700 individuals).