CRSP Survivor-Bias-Free US Mutual Fund Database
As the provider of the only complete database of both active and inactive mutual funds, CRSP leads the way in mutual fund research. The CRSP Survivor-Bias-Free US Mutual Fund Database serves as a foundation for research in and benchmarking for this asset class. Central to this work is the use of survivor-bias-free data to insure the accuracy of performance benchmarks, and the validity of analyses. Created according to clear, unbiased and systematic processes, this database undergoes rigorous procedures employed to promote data accuracy, timeliness and consistency.
The CRSP Survivor-Bias-Free US Mutual Fund Database was initially developed by Mark M. Carhart of Goldman Sachs Asset Management for his 1995 dissertation (Chicago GSB) entitled, “Survivor Bias and Persistence in Mutual Fund Performance”*, to fill a need for lacking survivor-bias-free data coverage.
Key Features Include:
- Fund Types: It currently contains complete historical information for over 30,361 (11,232 dead and 19,129 live funds) open-ended funds:
- Equity funds
- Taxable and municipal bond funds
- International funds
- Money market funds
- Comprehensive data: The data begin at varying times between 1962 and 2003 depending on availability and include:
- History of each mutual fund’s name
- Investment style
- Fee structure
- Holdings
- Asset allocation
- Monthly total returns
- Monthly total net assets (TNA)
- Monthly/daily net asset values
- (DNAV/NAV)
- Distributions
- Dividends
- Schedules of rear and front load fees
- Asset class codes
- Management company contact information
- Identifying information: ICDI number
- Delivery: The data is updated quarterly and is provided in SAS format on a CD (ASCII format available upon request).
- Third party access is provided via the WRDS (Wharton Research Data Services) internet platform (for academic and government subscribers only).
For additional information regarding the CRSP Survivor-Bias-Free US Mutual Funds Database, please contact subscriptions@crsp.ChicagoGSB.edu or call Subscriptions at
312-263-6400.