Beyond Random Assignment: Credible Inference of Causal Effects in Dynamic Economies

Christopher A. Hennessy and Ilya Strebulaev ()

No 20978, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Random assignment is insufficient for measured treatment responses to recover causal effects (comparative statics) in dynamic economies. We characterize analytically bias probabilities and magnitudes. If the policy variable is binary there is attenuation bias. With more than two policy states, treatment responses can undershoot, overshoot, or have incorrect signs. Under permanent random assignment, treatment responses overshoot (have incorrect signs) for realized changes opposite in sign to (small relative to) expected changes. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions, beyond random assignment, for correct inference of causal effects: martingale policy variable. Infinitesimal transition rates are only sufficient absent fixed costs. Stochastic monotonicity is sufficient for correct sign inference. If these conditions are not met, we show how treatment responses can nevertheless be corrected and mapped to causal effects or extrapolated to forecast responses to future policy changes within or across policy generating processes.

JEL-codes: C01 C22 C52 C54 G38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ecm and nep-mfd
Note: CF LS PE
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