Structural Equations, Treatment Effects, and Econometric Policy Evaluation1
Abstract
This paper uses the marginal treatment effect (MTE) to unify the nonparametric literature on treatment effects with the econometric literature on structural estimation using a nonparametric analog of a policy invariant parameter; to generate a variety of treatment effects from a common semiparametric functional form; to organize the literature on alternative estimators; and to explore what policy questions commonly used estimators in the treatment effect literature answer. A fundamental asymmetry intrinsic to the method of instrumental variables (IV) is noted. Recent advances in IV estimation allow for heterogeneity in responses but not in choices, and the method breaks down when both choice and response equations are heterogeneous in a general way.
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Angrist et al. (1996) and Heckman and Vytlacil (2005) refined the analysis by considering a variety of causal effect measures, each applicable to a special segment of the population.
“Angrist et al. (1996) and Heckman and Vytlacil (2005) further refined this analysis by considering a variety of causal effect measures, each applicable to a special (albeit non-identifiable and transient) segment of the population.”
From Causal inference in statistics: An overview (2009) · cites this paper as Heckman and Vytlacil (2005)
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- Authors
- Heckman, J. J., & Vytlacil, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Stanford University (US)
- ORCID
- Heckman, James J.
- Venue
- Econometrica
- Publisher
- The Econometric Society
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 669-738
- ISSN
- 0012-9682 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-0262
- OpenAlex
- W3121415235
- Cited by
- 1,220
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 43 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 91 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 87 · 2020: 80 · 2019: 63 · 2018: 73 · 2017: 82 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 50 · 2012: 44
- FWCI
- 39.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Econometrica (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Advanced Causal Inference Techniques
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Evaluation and Performance Assessment
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Keywords
- marginal treatment effect, treatment effects, structural equations, policy evaluation, nonparametric estimation, semiparametric models, instrumental variables, heterogeneous reactions
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