Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist's Companion [Paperback]

The core methods in today's econometric toolkit are linear regression for statistical control, instrumental variables methods for the analysis of natural experiments, and differences-in-differences methods that exploit policy changes. In the modern experimentalist paradigm, these techniques address clear causal questions such as: Do smaller classes increase learning? Should wife batterers be arrested? How much does education raise wages?Mostly Harmless Econometricsshows how the basic tools of applied econometrics allow the data to speak.

In addition to econometric essentials,Mostly Harmless Econometricscovers important new extensions--regression-discontinuity designs and quantile regression--as well as how to get standard errors right. Joshua Angrist and J?rn-Steffen Pischke explain why fancier econometric techniques are typically unnecessary and even dangerous. The applied econometric methods emphasized in this book are easy to use and relevant for many areas of contemporary social science.

• An irreverent review of econometric essentials


• A focus on tools that applied researchers use most


• Chapters on regression-discontinuity designs, quantile regression, and standard errors


• Many empirical examples


• A clear and concise resource with wide applications

"Winner of the 2018 (Second) Eugene Fama Prize for Outstanding Contributions to Doctoral Education, University of Chicago Booth School of Business"Joshua D. Angristis professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.J?rn-Steffen Pischkeis professor of economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science. A quirky and thought-provoking read for any budding econometrician. . . . Insightful and refreshing. ---James Davidson,Times Higher Education I'd recommend it to the entire range of empirical economists, from those still in training to thol£)