Multilevel modelling of country effects: a cautionary tale

Bryan, Mark L. and Jenkins, Stephen P. (2016) Multilevel modelling of country effects: a cautionary tale. European Sociological Review, 32 (1). pp. 3-22. ISSN 0266-7215

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Abstract

Country effects on outcomes for individuals are often analysed using multilevel (hierarchical) models applied to harmonised multi-country datasets such as ESS, EU-SILC, EVS, ISSP, and SHARE. We point out problems with the assessment of country effects that appear not to be widely appreciated, and develop our arguments using Monte-Carlo simulation analysis of multilevel linear and logit models. With large sample sizes of individuals within each country but only a small number of countries, analysts can reliably estimate individual-level effects but estimates of parameters summarising country effects are likely to be unreliable. Multilevel modelling methods are no panacea.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://esr.oxfordjournals.org/
Additional Information:	© 2016 The Authors
Library of Congress subject classification:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Sets:	Departments > Social Policy
Projects:	Analysing Life Changes in Europe project RES-062-23-1455, RES-518-28-001
Funders:	Economic and Social Research Council, University of Essex
Date Deposited:	26 Mar 2015 14:26
URL:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/61357/

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