Computing averages in panel data with missing observations

[Kodi Hannon]

Hello everybody!

I would kindly like to ask you a very quick question:

I have a panel data, and for a certain variable (let's say var_1) I need to calculate the average for each ID:

the code: " by ID: egen MEAN_var_1 = mean(var_1) " provides for this, but the problem is that in the computation of the average, it takes into account also the missing observations.

Is there a way to perform the same average but without considering missing observations?

Many thanks!

Kodi

[Nick Cox]

Let's back up here.

Any mean in Stata ignores missing values (not observations). The mean of 1, 2, 3, missing, missing, ... will be reported as 2.

So, egen is already doing what you want. In fact, what do you think it is doing that you do not want?

If missing means zero, you need to edit your data.

[Kodi Hannon]

Sorry, you are right Nick!

Thanks!