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Identification and Estimation in Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Designs with Covariates

Carolina Caetano, Gregorio Caetano, Juan Carlos Escanciano

arXiv 1 Feb 2026 · Econometrics

arXiv:2602.01417 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

We study fuzzy regression discontinuity designs with covariates and characterize the weighted averages of conditional local average treatment effects (WLATEs) that are point identified. Any identified WLATE equals a Wald ratio of conditional reduced-form and first-stage discontinuities. We highlight the Compliance-Weighted LATE (CWLATE), which weights cells by squared first-stage discontinuities and maximizes first-stage strength. For discrete covariates, we provide simple estimators and robust bias-corrected inference. In simulations calibrated to common designs, CWLATE improves stability and reduces mean squared error relative to standard fuzzy RDD estimators when compliance varies. An application to Uruguayan cash transfers during pregnancy yields precise RDD-based effects on low birthweight.

Citation extraction

28
references
38
in-text mentions
28
distinct cited
4
self-citations
25,975
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
1S. Calonico and M. Cattaneo and R. Titiunik (2014) Robust Nonparametric Confidence Intervals for Regression-Discontinuity Designs1.00054100%
2S. Calonico and M. Cattaneo and M. Farrell and R. Titiunik (2019) Regression-Discontinuity Designs Using Covariates0.84333100%
3Amarante, Verónica and Manacorda, Marco and Miguel, Edward and Vigor… (2016) Do cash transfers improve birth outcomes? Evidence from matched vital statistics, program, and social security data0.73732100%
4Imbens, G. W. and T. Lemieux (2008) Regression Discontinuity Designs: A Guide to Practice0.51121100%
5Huntington-Klein, Nick (2020) Instruments with heterogeneous effects: Bias, monotonicity, and localness0.51121100%
6Caetano, Carolina and Escanciano, Juan Carlos (2021) Identifying multiple marginal effects with a single instrument self0.40511100%
7Cattaneo, M. and J. C. Escanciano (2017) Regression Discontinuity Designs: Theory and Applications self0.40511100%
8Cattaneo, M. and N. Idrobo and R. Titiunik (2019) A Practical Introduction to Regression Discontinuity Designs: Foundations0.40511100%
9D. Feir and T. Lemieux and V. Marmer (2016) Weak Identification in Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Designs0.40511100%
10Frolich, M (2007) Regression Discontinuity Design with Covariates0.40511100%

Showing the top 10 of 28 scored citations.