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Rate-Optimal Cluster-Randomized Designs for Spatial Interference

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  • Michael P. Leung

Abstract

We consider a potential outcomes model in which interference may be present between any two units but the extent of interference diminishes with spatial distance. The causal estimand is the global average treatment effect, which compares outcomes under the counterfactuals that all or no units are treated. We study a class of designs in which space is partitioned into clusters that are randomized into treatment and control. For each design, we estimate the treatment effect using a Horvitz-Thompson estimator that compares the average outcomes of units with all or no neighbors treated, where the neighborhood radius is of the same order as the cluster size dictated by the design. We derive the estimator's rate of convergence as a function of the design and degree of interference and use this to obtain estimator-design pairs that achieve near-optimal rates of convergence under relatively minimal assumptions on interference. We prove that the estimators are asymptotically normal and provide a variance estimator. For practical implementation of the designs, we suggest partitioning space using clustering algorithms.

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  • Michael P. Leung, 2021. "Rate-Optimal Cluster-Randomized Designs for Spatial Interference," Papers 2111.04219, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2022.
  • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2111.04219
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    1. Eckles Dean & Karrer Brian & Ugander Johan, 2017. "Design and Analysis of Experiments in Networks: Reducing Bias from Interference," Journal of Causal Inference, De Gruyter, vol. 5(1), pages 1-23, March.
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    12. Sarah Baird & J. Aislinn Bohren & Craig McIntosh & Berk Özler, 2018. "Optimal Design of Experiments in the Presence of Interference," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 100(5), pages 844-860, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael P. Leung, 2023. "Design of Cluster-Randomized Trials with Cross-Cluster Interference," Papers 2310.18836, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.
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    3. Christopher Harshaw & Fredrik Savje & Yitan Wang, 2022. "A Design-Based Riesz Representation Framework for Randomized Experiments," Papers 2210.08698, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2022.
    4. Ke Sun & Linglong Kong & Hongtu Zhu & Chengchun Shi, 2024. "Optimal Treatment Allocation Strategies for A/B Testing in Partially Observable Time Series Experiments," Papers 2408.05342, arXiv.org.
    5. Jinglong Zhao, 2024. "Experimental Design For Causal Inference Through An Optimization Lens," Papers 2408.09607, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2024.

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