Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (Form BE-10)

Firm level surveys for universe of firms

Survey (self- or interviewer-administered)

Every five years, except for seven years between the 1982 and 1989 surveys

Fiscal year that ended in the calendar year of the survey

Microdata are almost entirely based on responses to enterprise level surveys administered by BEA, although other information is used to adjust some observations and variables. While the benchmark is typically collected at five year intervals, there was a seven year interval between the 1982 and 1989 surveys.

Varies by year. For example, data are available for about 2,000 firms in 1982 and about 20,000 firms in 2019. Also, data are available for about 19,000 foreign affiliates of these firms in 1982 and about 84,000 foreign affiliates in 2019.

Varies by year. For example, data are available for about 300 columns in 1982 and about 700 columns in 2019.

These linkage capabilities are for linking specific firms in two different data sets. Additional linkages of more general firm characteristics of (ex. location or industry specific information) can also be made to the extent the information is available in the survey. See "Crosswalks involving BEA microdata" ( https://www.bea.gov/system/files/2023-01/ssrp-bea-crosswalks-microdata.pdf ) for a description of crosswalks available between different BEA data sets and the Census Business Register. Data may also be matched to firm level data with name, EIN, and other identification fields as part of research proposal for approved data sources. Typically only the primary EIN for the enterprise is available.

• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Company/Firm/Business Name
• Company/Firm/Business Address
• Company/Firm/Business Email Domain
• Stock exchange ticker symbol
• Legal entity identifier (LEI)
• Other (see Linkage Capabilities description)