Privacy in Confidential Administrative Micro Data

Abstract

The demand for comprehensive and innovative data is constantly growing in social science. In particular, micro data from various social security agencies become more and more attractive. In contrast to survey data, administrative data offer a census with highly reliable information but are restricted in their usage. To make them accessible for researchers, data or research output either have to be anonymized or released after disclosure review procedures have been used. This article discusses the trade-off between maintaining a high capability of research potential while protecting private information, by exploiting the data disclosure portfolio and the adopted disclosure strategies of the Research Data Center of the German Federal Employment Agency.