Research Design and Falsification Testing in Health and Labor Economics

Catalog description

We cover how to use credible research designs to draw reliable inferences from non-experimental data in empirical research in health and labor economics. Particular emphasis is placed on constructing rigorous falsification tests to scrutinize the validity of one’s research design, statistical model and findings. The class also discusses how a basic understanding of economic theory, institutions and context can inform the analysis and generate decisive falsifications. By semester’s end, students should have a firm grasp of the types of research designs and statistical tools that can be used to address selection problems in empirical microeconomics research; be comfortable working with large-scale data sets; and be able to critically evaluate published research and present their own research.