Minimizing Bias in Selection on Observables Estimators When Unconfoundness Fails
38 Pages Posted: 18 Apr 2008 Last revised: 12 May 2008
There are 2 versions of this paper
Minimizing Bias in Selection on Observables Estimators When Unconfoundness Fails
Minimizing Bias in Selection on Observables Estimators When Unconfoundness Fails
Date Written: April 16, 2008
Abstract
We characterize the bias of propensity score based estimators of common average treatment effect parameters in the case of selection on unobservables. We then propose a new minimum biased estimator of the average treatment effect. We assess the finite sample performance of our estimator using simulated data, as well as a timely application examining the causal effect of the School Breakfast Program on childhood obesity. We find our new estimator to be quite advantageous in many situations, even when selection is only on observables.
Keywords: Treatment Effects, Propensity Score, Bias, Unconfoundedness, Selection on Unobservables
JEL Classification: C21, C52
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?
Recommended Papers
-
Why Have Americans Become More Obese?
By David M. Cutler, Edward L. Glaeser, ...
-
Why Have Americans Become More Obese?
By David M. Cutler, Edward L. Glaeser, ...
-
The Economic Reality of the Beauty Myth
By Susan L. Averett and Sanders Korenman
-
An Economic Analysis of Adult Obesity: Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
By Shin-yi Chou, Michael Grossman, ...
-
The Long-Run Growth in Obesity as a Function of Technological Change
By Tomas Philipson and Richard A. Posner
-
The Long-Run Growth in Obesity as a Function of Technological Change
By Richard A. Posner and Tomas Philipson
-
The Growth of Obesity and Technological Change: A Theoretical and Empirical Examination
-
Body Weight and Women's Labor Market Outcomes
By John Cawley
-
Maternal Employment and Overweight Children
By Patricia M. Anderson, Kristin F. Butcher, ...
-
Maternal Employment and Overweight Children
By Kristin F. Butcher, Patricia M. Anderson, ...