Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (Form BE-577)

Description

This survey collects information on the positions and transactions between a U.S. parent company and its foreign affiliates as well as the income earned on those investments. The survey is conducted on a sample of affiliates. In order to reduce the reporting burden, the sample does not include small affiliates. Instead, BEA imputes data for these affiliates by extrapolating forward their data from the most recent benchmark survey on the basis of the movement of the sample data.

Detailed Methodology

Sample

Firm level cutoff sample surveys with above size-exemption levels. However, restricted access data includes BEA imputations for affiliates below the cutoff by extrapolating forward their data from the most recent benchmark survey on the basis of the movement of the sample data. Data are also reconciled with related responses to the annual and benchmark surveys.

Method of Data Collection

Survey (self- or interviewer-administered)

Frequency of Data Collection

Every quarter

Reference Date

Previous fiscal quarter

Data Collection Notes

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. Data are reconciled with annual (BE-11) and benchmark (BE-10) surveys.

Number of Cases

Varies by quarter. For example, data are available for about 17,000 foreign affiliates in 1989 and for about 60,000 foreign affiliates in 2020.

Number of Variables

Varies by year. For example, data are available for about 60 columns in 1989 and about 100 columns in 2020.

Linkage Capabilities

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. While EINs are not included with these surveys, they can be obtained by linking to the corresponding Activities of Multinational Enterprises (AMNE) survey as described in "Crosswalks involving BEA microdata."

Linkage Variables