In part 2 of this series, we set the stage to parse the data files themselves. As a reminder, we have a dictionary that looks like id length start end 0 HRHHID 15 1 15 1 HRMONTH 2 16 17 2 HRYEAR4 4 18 21 3 HURESPLI 2 22 23 4 HUFINAL 3 24 26 ... ... ... ... giving the columns of the raw CPS data files. This post (or two) will describe the reading of the actual data files, and the somewhat tricky process of matching individuals across the different files.
