IZA - Conference Program

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IZA/DFID Short Course: Program Evaluation

Organizers: David Lam (University of Michigan and IZA), Maryam Naghsh Nejad (IZA)
Location:Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Church Road, PO Box 35450 Lusaka, Zambia
Date:October 29, 2016 - October 30, 2016

Event Manager:

Dominik Spitza (IZA)



Program

Saturday, October 29:

08:00 - 09:00   Registration and Distribution of Learning Materials
Teaching Materials
Stata Licenses, Installation
 
09:00 - 09:15   Welcome and Introduction
 
 
09:15 - 10:30   Kate Vyborny (Duke University)
  "Impact Evaluation"
 
        Theory of Change and Outcome Variable Selection
Potential Outcome Framework
RCT and Other Identification Strategies
 
 
10:30 - 11:00   Coffee Break
 
 
11:00 - 12:30   Christopher Parsons (University of Western Australia and IZA)
  "Difference in Differences"
 
        Motivation and Intuition
Historical Example
Graphical Illustration and Formalization
DiD with Regressions
Practical Advice and Sensitivity Analysis
 
 
12:30 - 13:30   Lunch
 
 
13:30 - 15:00   Marco Caliendo (University of Potsdam and IZA)
  "Maching I"
 
        What Is (Propensity Score) Matching?
Estimating the Propensity Score
Overlap and Common Support
 
 
15:00 - 15:30   Coffee Break
 
 
15:30 - 17:00   Marco Caliendo (University of Potsdam and IZA)
"Matching II"
 
        Choosing a Matching Algorithm
Assessing the Matching Quality
Effect Estimation
 
 
17:00 - 17:30   Day 1 Wrap Up
 
 
18:30       Dinner (shuttle)
 

Sunday, October 30:

08:30 - 10:00   Kate Vyborny (Duke University)
"Randomized Evaluations I"
 
        How to Randomize
(Selecting a Sample; Stratification; Level of Randomization;
Avoiding Spillovers and Clustering; Balance Testing)
Take-Up; Full vs. Partial Randomization
 
 
10:00 - 10:30   Coffee Break
 
 
10:30 - 12:00   Kate Vyborny (Duke University)
"Randomized Evaluations II"
 
        Data Collection: from Baseline to Follow-Up
(Sample Size; Timing and Frequency; Attrition)
Heterogeneous Effects
Multiple Arms and Testing Mechanisms
External Validity
 
 
12:00 - 13:00   Lunch
 
 
13:00 - 14:30   Christopher Parsons (University of Western Australia)
"Regression and Discontinuity Design"
 
        Motivation and Intuition
Examples: RDD in Practice
Sharp RDD: Formalization and Estimation
Robustness Checks
Fuzzy RDD: Intuition and Practice
 
 
14:30 - 15:00   Coffee Break
 
 
15:00 - 16:00   Practical Implications and Concluding Remarks
 




Suggested Reading

Impact Evaluation:
Difference in Differences:
  • Card, D. & Krueger, A.B. (1994): Minimum Wages and Employment: A Case Study of the Fast-Food Industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, The American Economic Review 84, 772-793.

Matching:
  • Caliendo, M. & Kopeinig, S. (2008): Some Practical Guidance for the Implementation of Propensity Score Matching, Journal of Economic Surveys 22, 31-72.
  • Dehejia, R.H. & Wahba, S. (1999): Causal Effects in Nonexperimental Studies: Reevaluation of Training Programs, Journal of the American Statistical Association 94, 1053-1062.

Randomized Evaluations: Regression Discontinuity Design:
  • Angrist, J.D. & Lavy, V. (1999): Using Maimonides' Rule to Estimate the Effect of Class Size on Scholastic Achievement, The Quarterly Journal of Economics 114, 533-575.