Persistence and aggregations of survey data over time: From microfoundations to macropersistence

The repeated cry for analysts to provide microfoundations for aggregate research is particularly relevant for the over time analysis of aggregations of survey data. In this paper I look at the microfoundations of some important macro processes, how they relate to aggregation theorems and the persistence of macro processes. In addition, I look at what we can learn about macro persistence from macro theory and models. The paper gives a broad treatment of each of these. While the choices at each stage often involve substantial ambiguity, microfoundations, aggregation theorems, as well as macro theory and evidence each help us to make decisions about persistence that enable us to make reliable inferences about the dynamics of aggregated preferences.