Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/78654 
Year of Publication: 
2005
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 2005:4
Publisher: 
Institute for Labour Market Policy Evaluation (IFAU), Uppsala
Abstract: 
In observational studies, the non-parametric estimation of a binary treatment effect is often performed by matching each treated individual with a control unit which is similar in observed characteristics (covariates). In practical applications, the reservoir of covariates available may be extensive and the question arises which covariates should be matched for. The current practice consists in matching for covariates which are not balanced for the treated and the control groups, i.e. covariates affecting the treatment assignment. This paper develops a theory based on graphical models, whose results emphasize the need for methods looking both at how the covariates affect the treatment assignment and the outcome. Furthermore, we propose identification algorithms to select at minimal set of covariates to match for. An application to the estimation of the effect of a social program is used to illustrate the implementation of such algorithms.
Subjects: 
Graphical models
matching estimators
observational studies
potential outcomes
social programs
JEL: 
C14
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
515.05 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.