We characterize the bias of propensity score based estimators of common average treatment effect parameters in the case of selection on unobservables. We then propose a new minimum biased estimator of the average treatment effect. We assess the finite sample performance of our estimator using...

The use of propensity score methods for program evaluation with non-experimental data typically requires the propensity score be estimated, often with a model whose specification is unknown. While theoretical results suggest that estimators utilizing more flexible propensity score specifications...

In the ¯rst of the essays, I reassess the relationship between premarital cohab-itation and marital instability both theoretically and empirically. It has become astylized fact that premarital cohabitation is positively correlated with the likelihood ofmarital dissolution. This is...

The persuasion rate is a key parameter for measuring the causal effect of a directional message on influencing the recipient's behavior. Its identification has relied on exogenous treatment or the availability of credible instruments, but the requirements are not always satisfied in...

In response to strong revenue and income losses that a large share of the self-employed faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the German federal government introduced a €50bn emergency aid program. Based on real-time online-survey data comprising more than 20,000 observations, we analyze the...

In response to strong revenue and income losses that a large share of the self-employed faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the German federal government introduced a €50bn emergency aid program. Based on real-time online-survey data comprising more than 20,000 observations, we analyze the...

Selbstständige haben während der Covid-19-Pandemie im Vergleich zu abhängig Beschäftigten besonders starke Einkommensverluste erlitten. Zu ihrer Unterstützung hat die Bundesregierung daher verschiedene Programme mit Liquiditätshilfen aufgelegt. Im Frühjahr 2020 startete der Bund die...

This paper examines a commonly used measure of persuasion whose precise interpretation has been obscure in the literature. By using the potential outcome framework, we define the causal persuasion rate by a proper conditional probability of taking the action of interest with a persuasive message...

This study analyses the effectiveness of targeted public support for R&D investment. In particular, we test whether the specific policy design aiming at incentivizing (international) collaboration and R&D in small and mediumsized firms achieves the desired objectives on input as well as output...

In this paper we study nonparametric estimation in a binary treatment model where the outcome equation is of unrestricted form, and the selection equation contains multiple unobservables that enter through a nonparametric random coefficients specification. This specification is flexible because...