Re: [Gretl-users] changing panel data structure
On Thu, 10 Feb 2011, Summers, Peter wrote:
While helping a student sort out a dynamic panel estimation, I
discovered the following. If I take a data set that's organized
as stacked time series, change the structure to stacked
cross-sections, then change it back, the second change isn't
implemented. I get a box saying no changes were made. Is this
intended behavior?
Ah, maybe it's a bit confusing but in fact it is intended. The
main point is that a panel dataset _must_ be organized as stacked
time series for use in gretl. "Stacked cross sections" is not an
option for panel data in gretl, it's just a way of saying that
your data are currently the wrong way round and need to be fixed.
So, if you go to "/Data/Dataset structure" and say that your
dataset is stacked cross sections, gretl will reorganize it for
you as stacked time series (a "physical" reorganization of the
data). Note that if you then go back to the "Dataset structure"
dialog your data will initially appear as "Stacked time series",
so, naturally, stating that the structure is stacked time series
will produce no change.
If you want to change the actual data layout back to what it was
originally, you have to say that it's stacked cross sections
(again), and gretl will reorganize the data in the opposite
direction.
Allin Cottrell