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Natural Experiments Based on Geography

Author

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  • Keele, Luke
  • Titiunik, Rocío

Abstract

Political scientists often attempt to exploit natural experiments to estimate causal effects. We explore how variation in geography can be exploited as a natural experiment and review several assumptions under which geographic natural experiments yield valid causal estimates. In particular, we focus on cases where a geographic or administrative boundary splits units into treated and control areas. The different identification assumptions we consider suggest testable implications, which we use to establish their plausibility. Our methods are illustrated with an original study of whether ballot initiatives increase turnout in Wisconsin and Ohio, which illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of causal inferences based on geographic natural experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • Keele, Luke & Titiunik, Rocío, 2016. "Natural Experiments Based on Geography," Political Science Research and Methods, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(1), pages 65-95, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:pscirm:v:4:y:2016:i:01:p:65-95_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Curtis Bram & Michael Munger, 2022. "Where you stand depends on where you live: county voting on the Texas secession referendum," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 67-79, March.
    2. Paul Minard, 2020. "Institutions and China's comparative development," Papers 2001.02804, arXiv.org.
    3. Sebastian Galiani & Patrick J. McEwan & Brian Quistorff, 2017. "External and Internal Validity of a Geographic Quasi-Experiment Embedded in a Cluster-Randomized Experiment," Advances in Econometrics, in: Regression Discontinuity Designs, volume 38, pages 195-236, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    4. Liebert, Helge, 2019. "Does external medical review reduce disability insurance inflow?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 108-128.
    5. Aepli, Manuel & Kuhn, Andreas & Schweri, Jürg, 2021. "Culture, norms, and the provision of training by employers: Evidence from the Swiss language border," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    6. Germeshausen, Robert & von Graevenitz, Kathrine & Achtnicht, Martin, 2022. "Does the stick make the carrot more attractive? State mandates and uptake of renewable heating technologies," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    7. Anna Harvey, 2020. "Applying regression discontinuity designs to American political development," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 185(3), pages 377-399, December.
    8. Nadiia Matsiuk, 2022. "Thrive, survive, or perish: The impact of regional autonomy on the demographic dynamics of Italian Alpine territories," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(5), pages 1512-1558, November.
    9. Pasquini, Ricardo A., 2021. "Effects of regulating the brokerage commission in the rental market: Evidence from Buenos Aires," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    10. Cerqua, Augusto & Pellegrini, Guido, 2018. "Local policy effects at a time of economic crisis," MPRA Paper 85621, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Haruka Kato & Atsushi Takizawa, 2022. "Population Decline through Tourism Gentrification Caused by Accommodation in Kyoto City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-12, September.
    12. Sugimoto, Kota, 2021. "Ownership versus legal unbundling of electricity transmission network: Evidence from renewable energy investment in Germany," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    13. Liebert, H.;, 2018. "External Medical Review in the Disability Determination Process," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 18/21, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.

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