Re: st: using matrix expression

[David Kantor <kantor.d@att.net>]

At 03:42 PM 10/2/2006, Sayda G Wentworth wrote:
> Hi,
> I have thousands of observations (individuals) and earnings data for 
> each of them covering 53 years, in the form earnings1951, 
> earnings1952,...,earnings2003.
> I'd like to convert those nominal earnings to 2003 dollars.
> I have a price index variable called cpi with 53 values * for each 
> of the 53 years, where the first value is equal to cpi1951/cpi2003, 
> the second is cpi1952/cpi2003 etc. The remaing values are missing 
> (because I copied a column created in excel).
> I'm trying to write a mini program that'll compute real earnings (in 
> 2003 dollars) for all individuals the following way:
>
> gen j=0
> . program define real
>   1. local i=1951
>   2. while (`i'<=2003) {
>   3. replace j=`i'-1950
>   4. gen realearnings`i'=earnings`i'/cpi[`j',1]
>   5. local i=`i'+1
>   6. }
>   7. end
>
> But the results I get are incorrect. To check why, I try:
>
> gen realearnings1951=earnings1951/cpi[1,1]
>
> and get an error message saying:
>
> cpi not found
> r(111);
>
> What is the correct way of doing this computation?
> Thanks.

Nick Cox has already answered this, but I would add that you have the 
choice of loading the CPI  values in a matrix or in data, but you 
need to decide that clearly, and then code accordingly.

But the real reason I am writing is that I have created a 
cpi-adjustment program that does what you want (using a matrix).  It 
also has the capability of specifying the "from" year as well as the 
"to" year, along with a few other options.  The disadvantage in your 
case, is that it only goes back to 1967, though that could be 
fixed.  It also allows several types of cpi's in addition to the 
general one -- food, shelter, housing, etc..  Another nice feature is 
that it allows the "from" year to be a variable.

I could let you have it, and if other users show interest, I might 
publish it; I just need to write a .hlp file and possibly extend the 
year range.

--David
P.S., in case some of you are not familiar with it, the cpi is the 
(U.S.) Consumer Price Index, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

*
*   For searches and help try:
*   http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
*   http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
*   http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/