Boesche, Tom (2019) Reassessing Quasi-Experiments: Policy Evaluation, Induction, and SUTVA. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. ISSN 1464-3537
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Text (Accepted on 2019-01-26)
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Abstract
This paper defends the use of quasi-experiments for causal estimation in economics against the widespread objection that quasi-experimental estimates lack external validity. The defence is that quasi-experimental replication of estimates can yield defeasible evidence for external validity.
The paper then develops a different objection. The stable unit treatment value assumption (SUTVA), on which quasi-experiments rely, is argued to be implausible due to the influence of social interaction effects on economic outcomes.
A more plausible stable marginal unit treatment value assumption (SMUTVA) is proposed, but it is demonstrated to severely limit the usefulness of quasi-experiments for economic policy evaluation.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Keywords: | quasi-experiment, treatment effect, causal estimation, counterfactual causation, external validity, econometrics | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Economics General Issues > Experimentation |
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| Depositing User: | Mr. Tom Boesche | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 27 Jan 2019 16:11 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 27 Jan 2019 16:11 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 15674 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science | ||||||
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Economics General Issues > Experimentation |
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| Date: | 2019 | ||||||
| ISSN: | 1464-3537 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15674 |
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- Reassessing Quasi-Experiments: Policy Evaluation, Induction, and SUTVA. (deposited 27 Jan 2019 16:11) [Currently Displayed]
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