Field Experiments in Economics: Palgrave Entry

9 Pages Posted: 23 May 2008

See all articles by John A. List

John A. List

University of Chicago - Department of Economics

David Reiley

Pandora Media, Inc.; UC Berkeley School of Information

Date Written: January 2008

Abstract

Field experiments occupy a middle ground between laboratory experiments and naturally occurring field data. The idea is to perform a controlled experiment that captures important characteristics of the real world. Relative to traditional empirical economics, field experiments provide an advantage by creating exogenous variation in the variables of interest, allowing us to establish causality rather than mere correlation. Relative to a laboratory experiment, a field experiment gives up some of the control that a laboratory experimenter may have over her environment in exchange for increased realism.

Keywords: field experiments

JEL Classification: C72

Suggested Citation

List, John A. and Reiley, David H., Field Experiments in Economics: Palgrave Entry (January 2008). IZA Working Paper No. 3273, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1136435 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1136435

John A. List (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Department of Economics ( email )

1126 East 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

David H. Reiley

Pandora Media, Inc. ( email )

2101 WEBSTER ST 16TH FLOOR
Oakland, CA 94612
United States

UC Berkeley School of Information ( email )

102 South Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-4600
United States

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