Regression Discontinuity Designs and Synthetic Control Method in Economics: Theory and Applications - Single View

Introduction:

Lee, D. S. and Lemieux, T. 2010. Regression Discontinuity Designs in Economics, Journal of Economic Literature, 48, 281-355.

Imbens, Guido W., and Thomas Lemieux. 2008. Regression Discontinuity Designs: A Guide to Practice. Journal of Econometrics, 142(2): 615–35.

Economics of Education

Angrist, Joshua D., and Victor Lavy. 1999. Using Maimonides’ Rule to Estimate the Effect of Class Size on Scholastic Achievement, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 114(2): 533–75.

Urquiola, Miguel, and Eric A. Verhoogen. 2009. Class-Size Caps, Sorting, and the Regression-Discontinuity Design. American Economic Review, 99(1): 179–215.

van der Klaauw, Wilbert. 2002. Estimating the Effect of Financial Aid Offers on College Enrollment: A Regression-Discontinuity Approach. International Economic Review, 43(4): 1249–87.

Cascio, Elizabeth U., and Ethan G. Lewis. 2006. Schooling and the Armed Forces Qualifying Test: Evidence from School-Entry Laws. Journal of Human Resources, 41(2): 294–318.

Leuven, Edwin, Mikael Lindahl, Hessel Oosterbeek, and Dinand Webbink. 2007. The Effect of Extra Funding for Disadvantaged Pupils on Achievement. Review of Economics and Statistics, 89(4): 721–36.

Health Economics

Carpenter, Christopher, and Carlos Dobkin. 2009. The Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Mortality: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from the Minimum Drinking Age. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 1(1): 164–82. 

Card, David, Carlos Dobkin, and Nicole Maestas. 2009. Does Medicare Save Lives? Quarterly Journal of Economics, 124(2): 597–636.

Davis, Lucas W. 2008. The Effect of Driving Restrictions on Air Quality in Mexico City. Journal of Political Economy, 116(1): 38–81.

Bharadwaj, P.; Løken, K. and Neilson. C. (2012), Early Life Health Interventions and Academic Achievement. Working Paper. Forthcoming in the American Economic Review.

Labor Economics 

DiNardo, John, and David S. Lee. 2004. Economic Impacts of New Unionization on Private Sector Employers: 1984–2001. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 119(4): 1383–1441.

Edmonds, Eric V., Kristin Mammen, and Douglas L.Miller. 2005. Rearranging the Family? Income Support and Elderly Living Arrangements in a Low-Income Country. Journal of Human Resources, 40(1): 186–207.

Political Economy

Ferreira, Fernando, and Joseph Gyourko. 2009. Do Political Parties Matter? Evidence from U.S. Cities. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 124(1): 399–422. 

Lee, David S., Enrico Moretti, and Matthew J. Butler. 2004. Do Voters Affect or Elect Policies? Evidence from the U.S. House. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 119(3): 807–59.

Pettersson-Lidbom, Per. 2008. Do Parties Matter for Economic Outcomes? A Regression-Discontinuity Approach. Journal of the European Economic Association, 6(5): 1037–56.

Portfolioprüfung

The regression discontinuity design and the synthetic control method have become very important econometric methods in the empirical economic literature. In this course, we will discuss studies in the area of labour economics, economics of education, health economics and political economy which apply the synthetic control and regression discontinuity design methods. Students will learn both methods and get an overview about leading articles in various areas of applied economics.