In an attempt to broaden the use of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS), the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs(KIHASA) has for some years published various reports and conference proceedings. This report, written in 2018, is an in-depth analysis of KoWePS. This report was begun with the intention of introducing the KoWePS and disseminating its outcomes to interested research institutions and researchers around the world.

This report explores the KoWePS from an international perspective, putting it in comparison with some of the major panel studies in other countries. We traced the processes through which these panels evolved over time and were made widely available and used in research and policy-making. This report focuses on some of the major long-standing panel surveys that have been conducted in the US, the UK, Europe and Asia. With the view to broadening the use of KoWePS, we had the Questionnaires and the User’s guide translated into English. 

The panel surveys this study examined include the US’s PSID, the UK’s BHPS, Germany’s SOEP, Japan’s JHPS/KHPS and Taiwan’s PSFD. In detail, we examined various aspects of the surveys, including their backgrounds, rationale, samples, sampling weights, questionnaires and data use, and drew policy implications for KoWePS. The authors hope that this report will be of use to those looking to improve KoWePS, which we hope will remain a rich source of authentic data for research and national policy-making.  

Abstract ················································································································1

Ch 1. Introduction ·························································································23

   A. Research Background and Purpose ··········································································25

   B. Research Scope and Methods ················································································28

Ch 2. British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) ·················31

   A. Background ······························································································33

   B. Samples and Sampling Weights ······················································································35

   C. Survey Method and Management ················································································40

   D. Main Contents of the Questionnaire ···············································································46

   E. Data Use ······························································································50

   F. Implications for the KoWePS ········································································53

Ch 3. US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) ···············55

   A. Background ······························································································57

   B. Samples and Sampling Weights ······················································································59

   C. Survey Method and Management ················································································69

   D. Main Contents of the Questionnaire ···············································································75

   E. Data Use ······························································································82

   F. Implications for the KoWePS ········································································84

Ch 4. Germany's Socio Economic Panel (SOEP) ···································87

   A. Background ······························································································89

   B. Samples and Sampling Weights ····················································································92

   C. Survey Method and Management ··············································································103

   D. Main Contents of the Questionnaire ·············································································114

   E. Data Use ····························································································122

   F. Implications for the KoWePS ······································································124

Ch 5. Japan/Keio Household Panel Survey (JHPS/KHPS) ··129

   A. Background ····························································································131

   B. Samples and Sampling Weights ····················································································134

   C. Survey Method and Management ··············································································140

   D. Main Contents of the Questionnaire ·············································································147

   E. Data Use ····························································································154

   F. Implications for the KoWePS ······································································159

Ch 6. Taiwan's Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD) ·············161

   A. Background ····························································································163

   B. Samples and Sampling Weights ····················································································171

   C. Survey Method and Management ··············································································177

   D. Main Contents of the Questionnaire ·············································································180

   E. Data Use ····························································································187

   F. Implications for the KoWePS ······································································191

Ch 7. Conclusion ·······················································································193

   A. Conclusion ·····································································································195

   B. Policy Implications for the KOWePS ·······························································199

References ···························································································203

Appendices···············································································209