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Noise-Induced Randomization in Regression Discontinuity Designs

Dean Eckles, Nikolaos Ignatiadis, Stefan Wager, Han Wu

arXiv 20 Apr 2020 · Statistics — Methodology

arXiv:2004.09458 · PDF · Extracted main text

Abstract

Regression discontinuity designs assess causal effects in settings where treatment is determined by whether an observed running variable crosses a pre-specified threshold. Here we propose a new approach to identification, estimation, and inference in regression discontinuity designs that uses knowledge about exogenous noise (e.g., measurement error) in the running variable. In our strategy, we weight treated and control units to balance a latent variable of which the running variable is a noisy measure. Our approach is driven by effective randomization provided by the noise in the running variable, and complements standard formal analyses that appeal to continuity arguments while ignoring the stochastic nature of the assignment mechanism.

Citation extraction

74
references
126
in-text mentions
74
distinct cited
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self-citations
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main-text words

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Most heavily cited references

The works this paper leans on most, across its whole bibliography — not restricted to papers in our corpus. Ranked by composite intensity, which combines how often a work is mentioned, how many sections mention it, and how much of that falls in the main text rather than the appendix.

ReferenceIntensityMentionsSectionsMain text
1Guido Imbens and Stefan Wager (2019) Optimized regression discontinuity designs self0.9568488%
2David S Lee (2008) Randomized experiments from non-random selection in US House elections0.92843100%
3Donald B Rubin (2008) For objective causal inference, design trumps analysis0.92843100%
4Timothy B Armstrong and Michal Kolesár (2020) Simple and honest confidence intervals in nonparametric regression0.87462100%
5Jacob Bor, Matthew P Fox, Sydney Rosen, Atheendar Venkataramani, Fra… (2017) Treatment eligibility and retention in clinical HIV care: A regression discontinuity study in South Africa0.87452100%
6Timothy B Armstrong and Michal Kolesár (2018) Optimal inference in a class of regression models0.8434475%
7James J Heckman and Edward Vytlacil (2005) Structural equations, treatment effects, and econometric policy evaluation0.84333100%
8Miikka Rokkanen (2015) Exam schools, ability, and the effects of affirmative action: Latent factor extrapolation in the regression discontinuity design0.81142100%
9Michal Kolesár and Christoph Rothe (2018) Inference in regression discontinuity designs with a discrete running variable0.7373367%
10Sebastian Calonico, Matias D Cattaneo, and Rocío Titiunik (2014) Robust nonparametric confidence intervals for regression-discontinuity designs0.73732100%

Showing the top 10 of 74 scored citations.

Cited by, within the corpus

arXiv econ.EM papers that cite this one, ranked by how heavily they lean on it.

Citing paperIntensityMentionsSections
1Regression Discontinuity Designs0.40511
2When Can We Ignore Measurement Error in the Running Variable?0.40511
3Safe Policy Learning under Regression Discontinuity Designs with Multiple Cutoffs0.40511
4Nonparametric Regression under Cluster Sampling0.40511
5Causal Interpretation of Regressions With Ranks0.40511
6Finite Population Identification and Design-Based Sensitivity Analysis0.40511
7Boundary estimation in the regression-discontinuity design: Evidence for a merit- and need-based financial aid program0.40511
8Do Test Scores Help Teachers Give Better Track Advice to Students? A Principal Stratification Analysis0.40511
9Non-parametric Causal Inference in Dynamic Thresholding Designs0.40511