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Optimality of Matched-Pair Designs in Randomized Controlled Trials

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  • Yuehao Bai

Abstract

In randomized controlled trials, treatment is often assigned by stratified randomization. I show that among all stratified randomization schemes that treat all units with probability one half, a certain matched-pair design achieves the maximum statistical precision for estimating the average treatment effect. In an important special case, the optimal design pairs units according to the baseline outcome. In a simulation study based on datasets from ten randomized controlled trials, this design lowers the standard error for the estimator of the average treatment effect by 10 percent on average, and by up to 34 percent, relative to the original designs.

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  • Yuehao Bai, 2022. "Optimality of Matched-Pair Designs in Randomized Controlled Trials," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(12), pages 3911-3940, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:112:y:2022:i:12:p:3911-40
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20201856
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yuehao Bai & Meng Hsuan Hsieh & Jizhou Liu & Max Tabord-Meehan, 2022. "Revisiting the Analysis of Matched-Pair and Stratified Experiments in the Presence of Attrition," Papers 2209.11840, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2023.
    2. Jiang, Liang & Phillips, Peter C.B. & Tao, Yubo & Zhang, Yichong, 2023. "Regression-adjusted estimation of quantile treatment effects under covariate-adaptive randomizations," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 234(2), pages 758-776.
    3. Jinglong Zhao, 2023. "Adaptive Neyman Allocation," Papers 2309.08808, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2023.
    4. Yuehao Bai & Jizhou Liu & Azeem M. Shaikh & Max Tabord-Meehan, 2023. "On the Efficiency of Finely Stratified Experiments," Papers 2307.15181, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2024.
    5. Guillermo Cruces & Dario Tortarolo & Gonzalo Vazquez-Bare, 2022. "Design of two-stage experiments with an application to spillovers in tax compliance," IFS Working Papers W22/32, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    6. Jizhou Liu, 2023. "Inference for Two-stage Experiments under Covariate-Adaptive Randomization," Papers 2301.09016, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2023.
    7. Yuehao Bai & Jizhou Liu & Max Tabord-Meehan, 2022. "Inference for Matched Tuples and Fully Blocked Factorial Designs," Papers 2206.04157, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.
    8. Yuehao Bai & Jizhou Liu & Azeem M. Shaikh & Max Tabord-Meehan, 2022. "Inference in Cluster Randomized Trials with Matched Pairs," Papers 2211.14903, arXiv.org, revised May 2023.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models

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