The following data were taken primarily from the most recent year of the WDI time series.
GDP. GDP at Market Prices (US Dollars). We used 1995 when possible for the 1995 data load, and 1994 when it could fill holes. The World Bank reported GDP in US dollars and we divided by one billion to convert to billion dollars.
GDPCurDol. GDP at Market Prices (US Dollars). For the Raw Data historical series we used WDI when possible.
GDP95. GDP at Market Prices (Constant 1995 US Dollars). For the Raw data historical series we used WDI when possible (1999 CD), but filled holes for this very important series in many ways. First, we filled some holes from the same WDI source series on GDP at Market Prices, current US dollars, using the CPI to convert to constant 1995 dollars (e.g. early Afghanistan values). Second, we used the decadal growth rates in various World Development Reports to fill additional missing values. Third, we used some values from the CIAHandbook of International Economic Statistics, 1998 volume. One important decision was to use West Germany for all of Germany prior to 1990. Another was to leave empty most years prior to 1991 for most republics of the former Soviet Union. None of the standard data sources feel comfortably in estimating those GDPs in light of current understandings of how they were misreported in earlier years.
CPIBase95. Time series for consumer price index. Selected years from WDI.
VaddAg. Agriculture Value Added, % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
VaddInd. Industry Value Added, % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
VaddSer. Services, etc. Value Added, % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
PCON. Private Consumption, etc. % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
GCON. General Government Consumption, % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
INVEST. Gross Domestic Investment, % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
Savings. Gross Domestic Savings, % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
Exports. Exports of Goods and Services, % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
Imports. Imports of Goods and Services, % of GDP. We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes.
MerchEx. Merchandise Exports (US $). Or Merchandise Exports (BoP US$). We used the former series when possible, and the second series to fill holes. We first used 1995 values of either series when possible, and 1994 of either series when it could fill holes.
Merchim. Merchandise Imports (US $). Or Merchandise Imports (BoP US$). We used the former series when possible, and the second series to fill holes. We first used 1995 values of either series when possible, and 1994 of either series when it could fill holes.
XDEBT. External Debt, Total (US $). We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes. We divided by one billion to convert to billion dollars.
Reserves. Reserves and related items (BoP, US$). We used 1995 when possible, and 1994 when it could fill holes. We divided by one billion to convert to billion dollars
ImFood. Food, % of Merchandise Imports. Data for 1994 and 1995 were unavailable. We used 1993 when possible and used 1992 to fill holes.
ImOthPrim. Non-Food Primary Commodities, % of Merchandise Imports. Data for 1994 and 1995 were unavailable. We used 1993 when possible and used 1992 to fill holes.
ImMinMat. Minerals and Metals, % of Merchandise Imports. Data for 1994 and 1995 were unavailable. We used 1993 when possible and used 1992 to fill holes.
ExFood. Food, % of Merchandise Exports. Data for 1994 and 1995 were unavailable. We used 1993 when possible and used 1992 to fill holes.
ExOthPrim. Non-Food Primary Commodities, % of Merchandise Imports. Data for 1994 and 1995 were unavailable. We used 1993 when possible and used 1992 to fill holes.
ExMets. Metals, % of Merchandise Exports. Data for 1994 and 1995 were unavailable. We used 1993 when possible and used 1992 to fill holes.
ExMins. Minerals, % of Merchandise Exports. Data for 1994 and 1995 were unavailable. We used 1993 when possible and used 1992 to fill holes.
The World BankCD-ROM included the following indicator in their table selection of data from the World Bank Atlas (Economic Indicators, not in time series form):
GDPPCP. GDP/pc PPP. The 1997 CD-ROM reported only 1995 data. We ended up using the Penn State data from the web because it was most comprehensive and up to date.
The World BankCD-ROM included the following two indicators in their table of World Development Indicators (not in time series form):
IncShareL. Percentage Share of Income or Consumption. Lowest 20%. Data are from the most recent survey, assorted years.
IncShareH. Percentage Share of Income or Consumption. Highest 20%. Data are from the most recent survey, assorted years.
IGDPGR. Initial GDP growth rate. Computed 15-year average from 1980-95 using data from the World Bank, World Development Indicators 1997, pp. 130-132.