Tools for Causal Inference

4 units · Graduate courses (200-299)

Seminar, three hours. Students strengthen critical analysis of empirical evidence. Review of purpose and objectives of impact evaluation. Evaluation of common but often problematic approaches: cross-sectional and before-after comparisons, and case studies of program beneficiaries. Examination of suite of experimental and quasi-experimental approaches: randomized controlled trials, matching, regression discontinuities, and difference-in-differences. Letter grading.