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Spotlight on researcher decisions: Infrastructure evaluation, instrumental variables, and specification screening

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  • Ankel-Peters, Jörg
  • Bensch, Gunther
  • Vance, Colin

Abstract

This paper revisits the instrumental variable (IV) approach in Lipscomb et al. (2013, 2021, LMB) to study the impacts of electrification. We first make corrections to the construction of the dataset, including the modelled IV. Revised estimates on main outcomes and mechanisms are statistically insignificant, with substantially lower effect sizes. We second develop a framework that accounts for weak IVs and discourages specification screening. Applying it to LMB, we find that most theoretically justified specifications yield insignificant results. The proposed framework is transferable to other IV applications to reduce potential bias stemming from researcher's or replicator's discretion.

Suggested Citation

  • Ankel-Peters, Jörg & Bensch, Gunther & Vance, Colin, 2023. "Spotlight on researcher decisions: Infrastructure evaluation, instrumental variables, and specification screening," Ruhr Economic Papers 991, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:991
    DOI: 10.4419/96973157
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David S. Lee & Justin McCrary & Marcelo J. Moreira & Jack Porter, 2022. "Valid t-Ratio Inference for IV," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(10), pages 3260-3290, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fiala, Nathan & Rose, Julian & Aryemo, Filder & Peters, Jörg, 2022. "The (very) long-run impacts of cash grants during a crisis," Ruhr Economic Papers 961, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    2. Ankel-Peters, Jörg & Brodeur, Abel & Dreber, Anna & Johannesson, Magnus & Neubauer, Florian & Rose, Julian, 2024. "A protocol for structured robustness reproductions and replicability assessments," Ruhr Economic Papers 1106, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Replication; instrumental variables; electrification; infrastructure; specification curveanalysis; robust inference;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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