A REVIEW OF STATA-3.1

Stata 3.1 is a program for data management, graphics, and statistical analysis. Since Version 2.1 was reviewed by Pederson (1991), Stata has added several platforms, third-party products, supporting services, a nd many features of interest to econometricians. The result is that St rata 3.1 integrates fast and reliable manipulation of data with high-p owered statistical analysis. For users who do no more than run regress ions, the new features do not detract from the feel of ease and contro l Stata gives the researcher working with any data set, large or small . A unique system to disseminate user-written programs lets Stata grow continuously without becoming unwieldly, ensuring that Stata will bec ome a standard package in several branches of applied statistics. This review summarizes the hardware requirements of Stata, demonstrates a short but typical Stats session, and discusses some of the unique elem ents of Stata.