Income Status in 1981

Question

I am looking at the definition of income status in the 2001 census dicitonary:
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Reference/dict/fam020.htm

and I am puzzled.

The detailed definition states: "Refers to the position of an economic family or an unattached individual 15 years of age and over in relation to Statistics Canada's low income cut-offs (LICOs)," followed by "Censuses: 2001 (1/5 sample), 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample)".

The latter implies that this variable or concept is covered in every census since 1971; however, examination of the PUMF codebooks reveals coverage only since 1991. A researcher here is looking at the relationship between immigrant status, age and
position above or below the LICO line. The above definition implies that he should be able to use the 1981 census, but the concept does not appear to be present there. Can someone explain this to me? Was it in the master file, but left out of the PUMF?

Answer

Low income cut-off variable is not included in the 1981 PUMF, however it does exists on the source database. It is important to remember that the content of the PUMF is a selection of variables only.

LICO is a derived variable based on a number of non-census resources including FAMEX/SHS and CPI, see:
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/13-551-XIB/free.htm

Using the incomes listed on pages 22 and in that document, your user should be able to code his/her own LICO in those pumfs which are currently missing such a variable - using either the 1986 or 1992 base years specified. Alternatively, the formulae are given from which one could derive LICOs for earlier base years working from earlier versions of FAMEX. It would be a bit of work, but as far as I can tell, it could be done.