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Fast and reliable computation of generalized synthetic controls

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  • Becker, Martin
  • Klößner, Stefan

Abstract

Given that existing implementations of synthetic control methods are plagued by serious weaknesses, new methods are offered for calculating synthetic control units. In particular, it is shown how to detect and handle important special cases that have yet to be addressed. Numerical methods for fast and reliably solving the nested optimization associated with the standard case are also discussed. An open source implementation of the presented methods is provided with the R package MSCMT, which can also be applied to generalizations of ‘standard’ synthetic control methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Becker, Martin & Klößner, Stefan, 2018. "Fast and reliable computation of generalized synthetic controls," Econometrics and Statistics, Elsevier, vol. 5(C), pages 1-19.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecosta:v:5:y:2018:i:c:p:1-19
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecosta.2017.08.002
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    7. David Gilchrist & Thomas Emery & Nuno Garoupa & Rok Spruk, 2023. "Synthetic Control Method: A tool for comparative case studies in economic history," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(2), pages 409-445, April.
    8. Malo, Pekka & Eskelinen, Juha & Zhou, Xun & Kuosmanen, Timo, 2020. "Computing Synthetic Controls Using Bilevel Optimization," MPRA Paper 104085, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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