Virtually all analyses will involve some consideration of socio-economic status, and many studies based on the LS have focussed explicitly on socio-economic variations in demographic events. The LS has, for example, been the basis of much influential research on inequalities in mortality, and in health status, and has been used to analyse socio-economic variations in fertility and in migration as well. The LS is also a unique source of data for measuring differentials in cancer incidence.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Choose appropriate socio-economic indicators from the LS for your research question
• Combine individual, household and area level indicators to their best effect
• Formulate a request for such data