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Literature Review and Evidence Aggregation: A Toolkit for Applied Micro

Author

Listed:
  • Ganong, Peter

    (University of Chicago)

  • Garg, Avik

    (University of Chicago)

  • Kasy, Maximilian

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

Consider an analyst interested in predicting the size of an effect. She has identified a set of prior published studies of similar effects. We provide a toolkit for (i) summarizing the prior literature, (ii) making predictions of effects in new contexts, and (iii) correcting for the bias from selectivity in the prior literature. We illustrate these methods with empirical examples from labor, public, behavioral, environmental, and development economics. Some of the tools are relevant even when only three prior studies are available. We show how it is possible to use covariates to transparently make predictions for a new context by reweighting prior estimates. The mean effect - after correcting for selectivity - is between 12% and 21% of the simple mean in our empirical examples. We conclude with a cookbook for practitioners producing meta-analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • Ganong, Peter & Garg, Avik & Kasy, Maximilian, 2026. "Literature Review and Evidence Aggregation: A Toolkit for Applied Micro," IZA Discussion Papers 18758, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18758
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • H00 - Public Economics - - General - - - General
    • I00 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General - - - General
    • J00 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - General
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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