This paper studies the optimality of matched-pair designs in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Matched-pair designs are examples of stratified randomization, in which the researcher partitions a set of units into strata based on their observed covariates and assign a fraction of units in each...

We compare the precision of critical values obtained under conventional sampling-based methods with those obtained using sample order statics computed through draws from a randomized counterfactual based on the null hypothesis. When based on a small number of draws (200), critical values in the...