Business Longitudinal Database Confidentialised Unit Record File Academics and researchers, are you looking for in-depth data on Australian businesses for your research?

The Business Longitudinal Database Confidentialised Unit Record File (BLD CURF) released in October 2009 is the first release from the ABS of a longitudinal business CURF. It contains consecutive cycles of business characteristics data collected by the ABS, and financial data sourced from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. The BLD includes businesses operating in the Australian economy except for those with more than 200 employees, and those in a small selection of ANZSIC classes.

The BLD CURF contains two independent samples (referred to as panels) drawn from the in-scope (at the time of selection) business population. Panel 1 contains data for 2,732 records for the three reference periods 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07. Panel 2 contains data for 3,432 records for the two reference periods 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The BLD was designed to optimally facilitate longitudinal, micro level comparisons across five consecutive years. Hence, while the sample is stratified by industry division and employment size it is not designed to produce cross-sectional or population estimates. The major consideration when originally allocating the sample for the BLD was ensuring that enough live sample would be available after five years to facilitate longitudinal analysis.

Feedback from users of this initial release of the BLD CURF will be used to improve any future releases.

Further details about the CURF in general and the specific data items can be found in the associated Technical Manual and Data Item Spreadsheet available within the 'Downloads' tab of the following link.

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/8168.0.55.002Main+Features12004-05,%202005-06%20and%202006-07?OpenDocument

If you have any queries please contact Karen Borchardt, Manager, Business Economics & Law Library Service