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Inference in Spatial Experiments with Interference using the SpatialEffect Package

Author

Listed:
  • Cyrus Samii

    (New York University)

  • Ye Wang

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Jonathan Sullivan

    (University of Arizona)

  • P. M. Aronow

    (Yale University)

Abstract

This paper presents methods for analyzing spatial experiments when complex spillovers, displacement effects, and other types of “interference” are present. We present a robust, design-based approach to analyzing effects in such settings. The design-based approach derives inferential properties for causal effect estimators from known features of the experimental design, in a manner analogous to inference in sample surveys. The methods presented here target a quantity of interest called the “average marginalized response,” which is equal to the average effect of activating a treatment at an intervention node that is a given distance away, averaging ambient effects emanating from other intervention nodes. We provide a step-by-step tutorial based on the SpatialEffect package for R. We apply the methods to a randomized experiment on payments for community forest conservation in Uganda, showing how our methods reveal possibly substantial spatial spillovers that more conventional analyses cannot detect.

Suggested Citation

  • Cyrus Samii & Ye Wang & Jonathan Sullivan & P. M. Aronow, 2023. "Inference in Spatial Experiments with Interference using the SpatialEffect Package," Journal of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Statistics, Springer;The International Biometric Society;American Statistical Association, vol. 28(1), pages 138-156, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jagbes:v:28:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s13253-022-00517-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s13253-022-00517-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cyrus Samii & Matthew Lisiecki & Parashar Kulkarni & Laura Paler & Larry Chavis & Birte Snilstveit & Martina Vojtkova & Emma Gallagher, 2014. "Effects of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) on Deforestation and Poverty in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(1), pages 1-95.
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    3. Jennifer M. Alix-Garcia & Katharine R. E. Sims & Patricia Yañez-Pagans, 2015. "Only One Tree from Each Seed? Environmental Effectiveness and Poverty Alleviation in Mexico's Payments for Ecosystem Services Program," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 7(4), pages 1-40, November.
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    7. Subhrendu K. Pattanayak & Sven Wunder & Paul J. Ferraro, 2010. "Show Me the Money: Do Payments Supply Environmental Services in Developing Countries?," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 4(2), pages 254-274, Summer.
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