Artikel

Estimation of standard errors and treatment effects in empirical economics—methods and applications

This paper discusses methodological problems of standard errors and treatment effects. First, heteroskedasticity- and cluster-robust estimates are considered as well as problems with Bernoulli distributed regressors, outliers and partially identified parameters. Second, procedures to determine treatment effects are analyzed. Four principles are in the focus: difference-in-differences estimators, matching procedures, treatment effects in quantile regression analysis and regression discontinuity approaches. These methods are applied to Cobb-Douglas functions using IAB establishment panel data. Different heteroskedasticity-consistent procedures lead to similar results of standard errors. Cluster-robust estimates show evident deviates. Dummies with a mean near 0.5 have a smaller variance of the coefficient estimates than others. Not all outliers have a strong influence on significance. New methods to handle the problem of partially identified parameters lead to more efficient estimates. The four discussed treatment procedures are applied to the question whether company-level pacts affect the output. In contrast to unconditional difference-in-differences and to estimates without matching the company-level effect is positive but insignificant if conditional difference-in-differences, nearest-neighbor or Mahalanobis metric matching is applied. The latter result has to be specified under quantile treatment effects analysis. The higher the quantile the higher is the positive company-level pact effect and there is a tendency from insignificant to significant effects. A sharp regression discontinuity analysis shows a structural break at a probability of 0.5 that a company-level pact exists. No specific effect of the Great Recession can be detected. Fuzzy regression discontinuity estimates reveal that the company-level pact effect is significantly lower in East than in West Germany.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Journal: Journal for Labour Market Research ; ISSN: 2510-5027 ; Volume: 47 ; Year: 2014 ; Issue: 1-2 ; Pages: 43-62 ; Heidelberg: Springer

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Single Equation Models; Single Variables: Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions
Single Equation Models: Single Variables: Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
Labor-Management Relations; Industrial Jurisprudence
Thema
empirische Forschung
Wirtschaftsforschung
Fehler
Forschungsmethode
Kausalanalyse
Schätzung
Regressionsanalyse
IAB-Betriebspanel
Arbeitsmarktforschung
Bündnis für Arbeit - Auswirkungen
Rezession
Westdeutschland
Ostdeutschland
Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Hübler, Olaf
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Springer
(wo)
Heidelberg
(wann)
2014

DOI
doi:10.1007/s12651-013-0135-0
Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
20.09.2024, 08:22 MESZ

Objekttyp

  • Artikel

Beteiligte

  • Hübler, Olaf
  • Springer

Entstanden

  • 2014

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