An earlier version of the Harmonized CHARLS dataset (version D) can be downloaded directly from the the CHARLS Website: Download Harmonized CHARLS D

The Harmonized CHARLS version D.2 dataset can be created using data from Waves 1 through 4 of CHARLS and the 2014 CHARLS Life History Survey, released as of 2021. See the loading... for more information about this version.

*Harmonized CHARLS D.2 contains 4,507 variables and will require Stata/SE or Stata/MP.

Download the loading...

To run the Harmonized CHARLS Creation Code in Stata:

• From the CHARLS website, download the all datasets in one zipfile options for the following data
  • 2011 CHARLS Wave 1
  • 2013 CHARLS Wave 2
  • 2015 CHARLS Wave 3
  • 2018 CHARLS Wave 4
  • 2014 CHARLS Life History Survey
• Unzip each zip file and store on your computer either in one or indivual folders.
• From the CHARLS DataForum download the solar to lunar date conversion Mata file.
• Edit lines 13-17 of the Stata Creation Code to list the folder location of the CHARLS unziped data files. Edit like 18 to list the folder location of the solar to lunar date conversion Mata file. Edit line 19 to list the folder location where you would like to save the Harmonized CHARLS dataset.

If you prefer to work with the Harmonized CHARLS dataset in a statistical package other than Stata, you can convert the Harmonized CHARLS Stata dataset using a program such as Stat/Transfer. If you do not have access to Stat/Transfer, you may be able to read the .dta dataset into your stat package using an "import" or "get" function. When reading a .dta dataset into another package, it is best to first save the dataset in a Stata version 12 format using the command saveold.