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rd2d: Causal Inference in Boundary Discontinuity Designs

Matias D. Cattaneo, Rocio Titiunik, Ruiqi Rae Yu

arXiv 12 May 2025 · Statistics — Methodology

arXiv:2505.07989 · PDF · Extracted main text

Abstract

Boundary discontinuity designs -- also known as Multi-Score Regression Discontinuity (RD) designs, with Geographic RD designs as a prominent example -- are often used in empirical research to learn about causal treatment effects along a continuous assignment boundary defined by a bivariate score. This article introduces the R package rd2d, which implements and extends the methodological results developed in Cattaneo, Titiunik and Yu (2025) for boundary discontinuity designs. The package employs local polynomial estimation and inference using either the bivariate score or a univariate distance-to-boundary metric. It features novel data-driven bandwidth selection procedures, and offers both pointwise and uniform estimation and inference along the assignment boundary. The numerical performance of the package is demonstrated through a simulation study.

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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
1Matias D Cattaneo, Rocio Titiunik, and Ruiqi Rae Yu (2025) Estimation and inference in boundary discontinuity designs self1.000115100%
2Sebastian Calonico, Matias D. Cattaneo, and Max H. Farrell (2018) On the effect of bias estimation on coverage accuracy in nonparametric inference self0.92843100%
3Sebastian Calonico, Matias D. Cattaneo, and Max H. Farrell (2022) Coverage error optimal confidence intervals for local polynomial regression self0.92843100%
4Juliana Londoño-Vélez, Catherine Rodrǵuez, and Fabio Sánchez (2020) Upstream and downstream impacts of college merit-based financial aid for low-income students: Ser pilo paga in colombia0.87452100%
5Luke J. Keele and Rocio Titiunik (2015) Geographic boundaries as regression discontinuities self0.73732100%
6Sebastian Calonico, Matias D. Cattaneo, and Rocio Titiunik (2014) Robust nonparametric confidence intervals for regression-discontinuity designs self0.64422100%
7Matias D. Cattaneo, Nicolás Idrobo, and Rocio Titiunik (2024) A Practical Introduction to Regression Discontinuity Designs: Extensions self0.64422100%
8John P Papay, John B Willett, and Richard J Murnane (2011) Extending the regression-discontinuity approach to multiple assignment variables0.64422100%
9Sean F Reardon and Joseph P Robinson (2012) Regression discontinuity designs with multiple rating-score variables0.64422100%
10Wolfgang Härdle, Marlene Müller, Stefan Sperlich, Axel Werwatz, et al (2004) Nonparametric and semiparametric models, volume 10.64422100%

Showing the top 10 of 17 scored citations.