LSMS Questionnaires, Data Sets, and Other Documentation

There are five basic steps to follow to determine if the LSMS data can meet the needs of your analyses.

First, read the background materials to find out what an LSMS is and what kind of data are included.

Second, look through the list of countries for which we have data and figure out which country, or countries, best fits your needs. Your decision should be based on such factors as the date the data were collected, the region in which the country is located, and the access policy, among others.

Third, get copies of the Basic Information Documents and Questionnaires for the surveys in which you are interested. Basic Information Documents contain information on the purpose of the survey, the sample design, the organization of the survey, the raw data files, the constructed data files, and codes not contained in the questionnaires. Some are available for downloading from the web site and others must be requested from the LSMS Office.

Fourth, check out the data access policy. The governments of the countries in which the data are collected own the data and decide if, and how, the World Bank can distribute the data. If you need to obtain government permission prior to requesting the data set from the LSMS Office, the contact addresses are provided for you.

Fifth, get copies of the data sets. Whether you download data from this site, or request data from the LSMS Office, you will be required to agree to certain conditions complying with the agreements reached by all parties in implementing the particular survey. This also helps DECRG substantiate demand for this service. (Evidence of demand for this service increases the chance that more survey data will be posted at this site.) The agreements simply state that receipt of the data obligates you to cite the source of the data and to send copies of papers to the LSMS Division of the World Bank and usually also to the statistical agency of the selected country. The agreement also requires you to state your name, address, and intended use of the data.

Users requesting copies of data sets that are not available through the web should send the following information to the LSMS Office via US Post:

• a brief description of your research proposal;
• an indication of the format in which you would prefer to receive the data (ASCII, SAS Portable, or STATA); and
• a check made out to the World Bank for the processing fee