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Evaluating multi-treatment programs: theory and evidence from the U.S. Job Training Partnership Act experiment

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  • Miana Plesca
  • Jeffrey Smith

Abstract

This paper considers the evaluation of programs that offer multiple treatments to their participants. Our theoretical discussion outlines the tradeoffs associated with evaluating the program as a whole versus separately evaluating the various individual treatments. Our empirical analysis considers the value of disaggregating multi-treatment programs using data from the U.S. National Job Training Partnership Act Study. This study includes both experimental data, which serve as a benchmark, and non-experimental data. The JTPA experiment divides the program into three treatment “streams” centered on different services. Unlike previous work that analyzes the program as a whole, we analyze the streams separately. Despite our relatively small sample sizes, our findings illustrate the potential for valuable insights into program operation and impact to get lost when aggregating treatments. In addition, we show that many of the lessons drawn from analyzing JTPA as a single treatment carry over to the individual treatment streams.
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  • Miana Plesca & Jeffrey Smith, 2007. "Evaluating multi-treatment programs: theory and evidence from the U.S. Job Training Partnership Act experiment," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 491-528, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:32:y:2007:i:2:p:491-528
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-006-0095-0
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    1. James J. Heckman & Carolyn Heinrich & Jeffrey Smith, 2002. "The Performance of Performance Standards," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 37(4), pages 778-811.
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    9. Black, Dan A. & Smith, J.A.Jeffrey A., 2004. "How robust is the evidence on the effects of college quality? Evidence from matching," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 121(1-2), pages 99-124.
    10. Steven Lehrer & Gregory Kordas, 2013. "Matching using semiparametric propensity scores," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 13-45, February.
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    13. Ho, Daniel E. & Imai, Kosuke & King, Gary & Stuart, Elizabeth A., 2007. "Matching as Nonparametric Preprocessing for Reducing Model Dependence in Parametric Causal Inference," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(3), pages 199-236, July.
    14. Frölich, Markus, 2006. "A Note on Parametric and Nonparametric Regression in the Presence of Endogenous Control Variables," IZA Discussion Papers 2126, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    Cited by:

    1. Peralta, M. Alexandra & Swinton, Scott M., 2013. "Impact Assessment with Opt-in Treatments: Evidence from a rural development project in Nicaragua," 2013 Annual Meeting, August 4-6, 2013, Washington, D.C. 150988, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Carlos A. Flores & Oscar A. Mitnik, 2013. "Comparing Treatments across Labor Markets: An Assessment of Nonexperimental Multiple-Treatment Strategies," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(5), pages 1691-1707, December.
    3. Dolton, Peter & Smith, Jeffrey A., 2011. "The Impact of the UK New Deal for Lone Parents on Benefit Receipt," IZA Discussion Papers 5491, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. José Ignacio García Pérez & David Troncoso Ponce, 2011. "La introducción de la renta graria: una evaluación del impacto sobre la oferta de trabajo en Andalucía y Extremadura," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 199(4), pages 53-80, December.
    5. Flores, Carlos A. & Mitnik, Oscar A., 2009. "Evaluating Nonexperimental Estimators for Multiple Treatments: Evidence from Experimental Data," IZA Discussion Papers 4451, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Núria Rodríguez-Planas & Benus Jacob, 2010. "Evaluating active labor market programs in Romania," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 65-84, February.
    7. Burt S. Barnow & Jeffrey Smith, 2015. "Employment and Training Programs," NBER Chapters, in: Economics of Means-Tested Transfer Programs in the United States, Volume 2, pages 127-234, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Vincenzo Caponi & Miana Plesca, 2009. "Post‐secondary education in Canada: can ability bias explain the earnings gap between college and university graduates?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3), pages 1100-1131, August.
    9. Lee, Ying-Ying, 2018. "Efficient propensity score regression estimators of multivalued treatment effects for the treated," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 204(2), pages 207-222.
    10. Galdo, Jose & Chong, Alberto, 2012. "Does the quality of public-sponsored training programs matter? Evidence from bidding processes data," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 970-986.
    11. Chen, Wenjie, 2011. "The effect of investor origin on firm performance: Domestic and foreign direct investment in the United States," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(2), pages 219-228, March.

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