Methods explained - Business Structure Database

The Interdepartmental Business Register (IDBR) is a comprehensive database of UK businesses, drawn from administative data sources. This article intially provides a short explanation of the IDBR. The focus of the article is then directed to the development of the IDBR as a research tool by staff at the Virtual Microdata Laboratory (VML). The resulting Business Structure Database (BSD) is now routinely used for academic and government studies. Economic & Labour Market Review (2009) 3, 71–75; doi:10.1057/elmr.2009.94