panelandmeid
Panel data, or longitudinal data, are datasets that follow the same units over multiple time periods. Each unit—such as a person, firm, or country—is observed repeatedly, creating a structure with both cross-sectional and time dimensions. In Estonian statistical usage the term panelandmeid is used for panel data.
Panel data enable control for unobserved, time-invariant characteristics and allow researchers to study dynamics by exploiting
Data structures can be balanced, where every unit has observations for all periods, or unbalanced, where some
Common analytical approaches include fixed-effects models, which remove time-invariant confounders by demeaning, and random-effects models, which
Practical issues include handling missing data, attrition, non-stationarity, and measurement error. The key limitations are potential
Panel data are widely used in economics, finance, public health, and social sciences, derived from surveys, administrative