SPMGEOADJANC12 is a 22-digit floating point variable.
999999999999999.000000 = NIU (Not in universe)

Description

SPMGEOADJANC12 is used to adjust the anchored Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) threshold (SPMTHRESHANC12) for geographic differences in the cost of living. It represents the ratio of the 2012-anchored threshold without adjustment for geographic cost-of-living to the 2012-anchored threshold with geographic adjustment.

The variable can be used to calculate geographically unadjusted, 2012-anchored SPM thresholds (e.g., by dividing SPMTHRESHANC12 by SPMGEOADJANC12); its function is comparable to the unanchored SPMGEOADJ. Indeed, because only the baseline threshold is anchored and adjusted for inflation and the geographic adjustment is based on the reference year, SPMGEOADJ and SPMGEOADJANC12 will be identical in all years when both are available. Refer to this example within the Historical SPM user note that shows the calculation of the SPM thresholds and geographic adjustment factor. This is one of three anchored variables created by the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University as part of their Historical SPM project. SPMTHRESHANC12 records a family's SPM poverty threshold anchored to 2012, and SPMPOVANC12 is a dichotomous measure of poverty status using the anchored threshold.

Comparability

SPMGEOADJANC12 is largely comparable across all years.

SPMGEOADJANC12 is created by CPSP from 1968-2009. For 2010 forward, this variable is generated by IPUMS using the same methodology.

While the methods used to calculate the Historical SPM variables are the same for the entire series, some variables are entirely imputed or alternate data sources are used because of unevenness in data ability over time. Please see the user note linked from the description tab for further information on the creation of the Historical SPM variables.

Universe

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Unharmonized Variables