Information Capacity Dataset

Data source: Brambor, Goenega, Lindvall and Teorell

Description:

The original Information Capacity Dataset offers numerical data on five institutions and policies that modern states use to collect information about their populations and territories: (1) the regular implementation of a reliable census, (2) the regular release of statistical yearbooks, the operation of (3) civil and (4) population registers, and (5) the establishment of a government agency tasked with processing statistical information. Based on these five indicators, an overall index of “information capacity” is calculated for 85 polities from 1750 to 2015.

Dataset type:	Time-Series
Dataset level:	Country

Citation:

When using this dataset, please cite as:

• Brambor, T., Goenaga, A., Lindvall, J., & JanTeorell. (2020). The lay of the land: Information capacity and the state. Comparative Political Studies, 53(2), 175–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414019843432

    @article{icd1,
 author = {Brambor, Thomas and Agustín Goenaga and Johannes Lindvall and JanTeorell},
 doi = {10.1177/0010414019843432},
 journal = {Comparative Political Studies},
 number = {2},
 pages = {175--213},
 title = {The Lay of the Land: Information Capacity and the State},
 volume = {53},
 year = {2020}
}

Variables in this dataset:

Information Capacity

QoG Code: icd_infcapirt

The aggregate index of information capacity. It is based on a hybrid two-parameter and graded Item Response Model (IRT) that is based on five component indicators - when the country first established a statistical agency, whether the country had in place a civil register and a population register, and the graded indexes of census ability and yearbook ability.

More about this variable

Information Capacity (year 1750)

QoG Code: icd_infcapirt1750

The aggregate index score of information capacity for the year of 1750. It is based on a hybrid two-parameter and graded Item Response Model (IRT) that is based on five component indicators - when the country first established a statistical agency, whether the country had in place a civil register and a population register, and the graded indexes of census ability and yearbook ability.

More about this variable

Information Capacity (year 1800)

QoG Code: icd_infcapirt1800

The aggregate index score of information capacity for the year of 1800. It is based on a hybrid two-parameter and graded Item Response Model (IRT) that is based on five component indicators - when the country first established a statistical agency, whether the country had in place a civil register and a population register, and the graded indexes of census ability and yearbook ability.

More about this variable

Information Capacity (year 1850)

QoG Code: icd_infcapirt1850

The aggregate index score of information capacity for the year of 1850. It is based on a hybrid two-parameter and graded Item Response Model (IRT) that is based on five component indicators - when the country first established a statistical agency, whether the country had in place a civil register and a population register, and the graded indexes of census ability and yearbook ability.

More about this variable

Information Capacity (year 1900)

QoG Code: icd_infcapirt1900

The aggregate index score of information capacity for the year of 1900. It is based on a hybrid two-parameter and graded Item Response Model (IRT) that is based on five component indicators - when the country first established a statistical agency, whether the country had in place a civil register and a population register, and the graded indexes of census ability and yearbook ability.

More about this variable