Matching Compustat Data to the Longitudinal Business Database, 1976-2020
September 2025
Working Paper Number:
CES-25-65
Abstract
This paper details the methodology for creating an updated Compustat-Longitudinal Business Database (LBD) bridge, facilitating linkage between company identifiers in Compustat and firm identifiers in the LBD. In addition to data from Compustat, we incorporate historical data on public companies from various public and private sources, including information on executive names. Our methodology involves a series of stages using fuzzy name and address matching, including EIN, telephone number, and industry code matching. Qualified researchers with approved proposals can access this bridge though the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers. The Compustat-SSL bridge serves as a crucial resource for longitudinal studies on U.S. businesses, corporate governance, and executive compensation.
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information census,
enterprise,
database,
census data,
company,
disclosure,
corporation,
executive,
employee,
corporate,
merger,
subsidiary,
proprietor,
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Internal Revenue Service,
Service Annual Survey,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
Office of Management and Budget,
Company Organization Survey,
Longitudinal Business Database,
Center for Research in Security Prices,
Michigan Institute for Teaching and Research in Economics,
Employer Identification Numbers,
North American Industry Classification System,
Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics,
Business Register,
Protected Identification Key,
Census Bureau Disclosure Review Board,
Person Validation System,
Federal Statistical Research Data Center,
Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs,
Research and Development
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