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What is Meant by ‘Replication’ and Why Does It Encounter Resistance in Economics?

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This paper discusses recent trends in the use of replications in economics. We identify a number of sources of progress, including the results of recent replication studies that have attempted to identify replication rates within the discipline. These studies generally find that replication rates are relatively low, though they may be higher for laboratory experiments in economics. We also identify two web-based resources for replications, the Replication in Economics wiki and The Replication Network. We then consider obstacles to undertaking replication studies in economics. Two obstacles are the lack of publishing outlets and difficulties in obtaining data and code for published studies. We identify journals that publish replication studies and that “regularly” include data and code as supplementary files for their published research. Finally, we highlight replication initiatives in psychology and political science, behind which economics appears to lag. Whether this is because the problems that beset those disciplines are less severe in economics, or because economics is more resistant to replications, is arguable.

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  • Maren Duvendack & Richard Palmer-Jones & W. Robert Reed, 2016. "What is Meant by ‘Replication’ and Why Does It Encounter Resistance in Economics?," Working Papers in Economics 16/34, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    • Handle: RePEc:cbt:econwp:16/34
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    1. Dewald, William G & Thursby, Jerry G & Anderson, Richard G, 1986. "Replication in Empirical Economics: The Journal of Money, Credit and Banking Project," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 76(4), pages 587-603, September.
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    7. Vlaeminck, Sven, 2013. "Data Management in Scholarly Journals and Possible Roles for Libraries - Some Insights from EDaWaX," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 23(1), pages 49-79.
    8. Maren Duvendack & Richard W. Palmer-Jones & W. Robert Reed, 2015. "Replications in Economics: A Progress Report," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 12(2), pages 164–191-1, May.
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    11. Maren Duvendack & Richard Palmer-Jones, 2013. "Replication of quantitative work in development studies: Experiences and suggestions," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 13(4), pages 307-322, October.
    12. Andrew C. Chang & Phillip Li, 2015. "Is Economics Research Replicable? Sixty Published Papers from Thirteen Journals Say \"Usually Not\"," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2015-83, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Replication; data sharing; publication bias;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A1 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics
    • B4 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology

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