Help creating a variable

[Luis Mijares Castaneda]

Hello, I need help creating a variable named family religious score, The family religion score should be created as follows. The family religion score should be the father’s value up until a child (the voter) is born, then it is replaced with the voter value until another child is born into the family and then it is replaced again

For example, based on the code below I want the family religious score to start at .9155425 and then change to 9918037 and repeat for every child

#

* Example generated by -dataex-. To install: ssc install dataex
clear
input int family_id str22 voter_name str23 father_name int birth_year str6 religion float(voter_value father_value year expander)
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1991 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1992 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1993 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1994 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1996 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1997 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1987 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1988 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1989 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1990 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1995 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1987 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1989 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1992 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1993 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1994 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1995 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1996 11
 2 "Rwhad Swfnf"    "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1993 "Hindu" .9951079 .9960787 1988 11
 2 "Rwhad Swfnf"    "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1993 "Hindu" .9951079 .9960787 1990 11
 2 "Rwhad Swfnf"    "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1993 "Hindu" .9951079 .9960787 1991 11
 2 "Rwhad Swfnf"    "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1993 "Hindu" .9951079 .9960787 1997 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1988 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1989 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1990 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1994 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1995 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1996 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1997 11
 3 "Radhf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1994 "Hindu" .8159367 .9942695 1987 11
 3 "Radhf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1994 "Hindu" .8159367 .9942695 1991 11
 3 "Radhf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1994 "Hindu" .8159367 .9942695 1992 11
 3 "Radhf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1994 "Hindu" .8159367 .9942695 1993 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1988 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1992 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1993 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1994 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1996 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1987 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1989 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1990 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1991 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1995 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1997 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1988 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1989 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1990 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1991 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1995 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1996 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1997 11
 5 "Shhwn Pwd"      "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1994 "Hindu" .8743593 .8680474 1987 11
 5 "Shhwn Pwd"      "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1994 "Hindu" .8743593 .8680474 1992 11
 5 "Shhwn Pwd"      "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1994 "Hindu" .8743593 .8680474 1993 11
 5 "Shhwn Pwd"      "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1994 "Hindu" .8743593 .8680474 1994 11
 6 "Phhjw"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1990 "Hindu" .4431141 .9756482 1988 11
 6 "Phhjw"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1990 "Hindu" .4431141 .9756482 1995 11
 6 "Phhjw"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1990 "Hindu" .4431141 .9756482 1996 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1987 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1989 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1990 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1991 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1992 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1993 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1994 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1997 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1989 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1991 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1992 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1993 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1994 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1995 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1987 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1988 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1990 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1996 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1997 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1988 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1992 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1993 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1995 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1997 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1987 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1989 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1990 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1991 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1994 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1996 11
 9 "Nvvdwj"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1990 "Hindu"  .242285 .7505836 1988 11
 9 "Nvvdwj"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1990 "Hindu"  .242285 .7505836 1992 11
 9 "Phhnwm"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1992 "Hindu" .7023188 .7505836 1989 11
 9 "Phhnwm"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1992 "Hindu" .7023188 .7505836 1990 11
 9 "Phhnwm"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1992 "Hindu" .7023188 .7505836 1995 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1987 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1991 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1993 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1994 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1996 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1997 11
10 "Lwxmf Bwf"      "Dhwdwmkwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9483013 .9987964 1989 11
end

[Clyde Schechter]

by family_id (year), sort: egen first_birth_year = min(birth_year)
gen religion_index = cond(year < first_birth_year, father_value, voter_value)

[Clyde Schechter]

I realized that the solution proposed in #2 is incorrect. Among other problems, it doesn't account for the possibilitiy of more than one birth in a family.

The solution is complicated because the data set appears to have been the result of pairing into the same observations variables that correspond to the value at the time given by year with other variables that correspond to the value at the time given by birth_year. While it would have been better not to create the data set in this way in the first place, we can solve the problem anyway by separating them after the fact.

* Example generated by -dataex-. To install: ssc install dataex
clear
input int family_id str22 voter_name str23 father_name int birth_year str6 religion float(voter_value father_value year expander)
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1991 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1992 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1993 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1994 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1996 11
 1 "Mwnfvh Kamwd"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1990 "Hindu" .7049773 .9155425 1997 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1987 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1988 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1989 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1990 11
 1 "Inda Swfnf"     "Bhhhk Sfnvh"       1996 "Hindu" .9918037 .9155425 1995 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1987 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1989 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1992 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1993 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1994 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1995 11
 2 "Dfnvvh Swfnf"   "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1992 "Hindu" .9971012 .9960787 1996 11
 2 "Rwhad Swfnf"    "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1993 "Hindu" .9951079 .9960787 1988 11
 2 "Rwhad Swfnf"    "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1993 "Hindu" .9951079 .9960787 1990 11
 2 "Rwhad Swfnf"    "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1993 "Hindu" .9951079 .9960787 1991 11
 2 "Rwhad Swfnf"    "Bhhhk Sfnvh Swfnf" 1993 "Hindu" .9951079 .9960787 1997 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1988 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1989 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1990 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1994 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1995 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1996 11
 3 "Kfdxf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1992 "Hindu" .9840044 .9942695 1997 11
 3 "Radhf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1994 "Hindu" .8159367 .9942695 1987 11
 3 "Radhf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1994 "Hindu" .8159367 .9942695 1991 11
 3 "Radhf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1994 "Hindu" .8159367 .9942695 1992 11
 3 "Radhf"          "Swxyw Dvv Swfnf"   1994 "Hindu" .8159367 .9942695 1993 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1988 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1992 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1993 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1994 11
 4 "Bhwdwx Bhavhwn" "Swxyw Pwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9844022 .9962896 1996 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1987 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1989 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1990 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1991 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1995 11
 4 "Hwdfhm"         "Swxyw Pwd"         1994 "Hindu" .3499433 .9962896 1997 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1988 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1989 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1990 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1991 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1995 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1996 11
 5 "Tvvnw"          "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1989 "Hindu" .7304577 .8680474 1997 11
 5 "Shhwn Pwd"      "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1994 "Hindu" .8743593 .8680474 1987 11
 5 "Shhwn Pwd"      "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1994 "Hindu" .8743593 .8680474 1992 11
 5 "Shhwn Pwd"      "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1994 "Hindu" .8743593 .8680474 1993 11
 5 "Shhwn Pwd"      "Jwf Bhwvwwn"       1994 "Hindu" .8743593 .8680474 1994 11
 6 "Phhjw"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1990 "Hindu" .4431141 .9756482 1988 11
 6 "Phhjw"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1990 "Hindu" .4431141 .9756482 1995 11
 6 "Phhjw"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1990 "Hindu" .4431141 .9756482 1996 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1987 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1989 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1990 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1991 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1992 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1993 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1994 11
 6 "Jwnwk"          "Kdfvhwn Kamwd"     1993 "Hindu" .9848574 .9756482 1997 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1989 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1991 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1992 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1993 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1994 11
 7 "Rhhfx"          "Rwjjfd"            1989 "Hindu" .6848928 .9323343 1995 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1987 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1988 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1990 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1996 11
 7 "Mhhfx Kamwd"    "Rwjjfd"            1994 "Hindu" .6835536 .9323343 1997 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1988 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1992 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1993 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1995 11
 8 "Rwvf Kwnx"      "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1990 "Hindu" .9438493 .8202123 1997 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1987 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1989 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1990 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1991 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1994 11
 8 "Hfmwnvha"       "Akvhwy Kamwd"      1993 "Hindu" .5292737 .8202123 1996 11
 9 "Nvvdwj"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1990 "Hindu"  .242285 .7505836 1988 11
 9 "Nvvdwj"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1990 "Hindu"  .242285 .7505836 1992 11
 9 "Phhnwm"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1992 "Hindu" .7023188 .7505836 1989 11
 9 "Phhnwm"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1992 "Hindu" .7023188 .7505836 1990 11
 9 "Phhnwm"         "Bwdkfvhwn"         1992 "Hindu" .7023188 .7505836 1995 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1987 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1991 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1993 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1994 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1996 11
 9 "Mwnhj Kamwd"    "Bwdkfvhwn"         1994 "Hindu" .8745513 .7505836 1997 11
10 "Lwxmf Bwf"      "Dhwdwmkwd"         1992 "Hindu" .9483013 .9987964 1989 11
end

isid family_id year, sort
tempfile copy
save `copy'


keep family_id birth_year voter_value
duplicates drop
by family_id (birth_year), sort: gen expander = 2 if _n == _N
expand expander
by family_id (birth_year), sort: replace birth_year = . if _n == _N
by family_id (birth_year), sort: gen from = birth_year[_n-1]
by family_id (birth_year): gen to = birth_year - 1
by family_id (to), sort: gen vv = voter_value[_n-1]
keep family_id from to vv

rangejoin year from to using `copy', by(family_id)
sort family_id year

gen religion_index = cond(missing(from), father_value, vv)
drop vv from to

[Clyde Schechter]

Oh, and I forgot to mention that -rangejoin- is written by Robert Picard and is available from SSC. To use it, you must also install -rangestat-, by Robert Picard, Nick Cox, and Roberto Ferrer, also available from SSC.