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WRDS

This guide provides an introduction to the WRDS platform.

About WRDS

The UA Culverhouse College of Business and its departments subscribe to several data sets that can be searched through the WRDS interface, including CRSP, Compustat, and Eventus.

UA faculty and students may request an account by choosing the “Register” link in the top black bar at http://wrds.wharton.upenn.edu/ and filling out the form.  Account requests will be approved by the WRDS representative through an automated process.

Short-term users may request a daypass at http://libdata.lib.ua.edu/login?url=http://wrds-web.wharton.upenn.edu/wrds/connect.

Once you are logged in, you may view and select the available datasets. Documentation is available under the support tab.

Questions about your local account can be sent to your UA WRDS representative, Karen Chapman, Angelo Bruno Business Library, kchapman@ua.edu or 205-348-1096.

Questions about using WRDS can be submitted to their support team using the "Info / Support Request" link in the page footer.

Connect

Connect: http://wrds.wharton.upenn.edu/

Note: Many of the links in this guide will only work if you are logged in to your WRDS account.

Types of Accounts

WRDS offers these types of accounts:

  • Faculty
  • Ph.D. student
  • Research assistant
  • Staff
  • Visitor
  • Masters/ Undergraduate student
  • Class

The primary difference among the types is the amount of data storage and the expiration date.  If your account expires, you can request an account extension online or by emailing the WRDS representative, and the WRDS representative can also change your account's type if your status changes.

 

Dataset Availability

The University of Alabama does not subscribe to every available dataset that is offered on the WRDS platform.  When you log in, you will see the list of subscribed datasets.  Most datasets are funded by individual departments within the Culverhouse College of Business.

Note that WRDS is fundamentally a platform that provides tools for analyzing data.  The datasets themselves are licensed from their vendors; for example, the Compustat dataset is licensed from Standard & Poor's.  Likewise, detailed support for a specific dataset would be provided by the vendor, not the WRDS support team.  However, as WRDS has grown and enhanced its offerings, you will find that some datasets and are provided and supported by WRDS.