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The Porous Dialectic: Experimental and Non-Experimental Methods in Development Economics

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  • Rajeev Dehejia

Abstract

This paper provides a survey of six widely used non-experimental methods for estimating the impact of programmes in the context of developing economies (instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, direct matching, propensity score matching, linear regression and non-parametric methods, and difference-in-differences), and assesses their internal and external validity relative both to each other and to randomized controlled trials.

Suggested Citation

  • Rajeev Dehejia, 2013. "The Porous Dialectic: Experimental and Non-Experimental Methods in Development Economics," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-011, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2013-011
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/WP2013-011.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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