Using Synthetic Controls: Feasibility, Data Requirements, and Methodological Aspects
Name
jel.20191450.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
861.96 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
ccc7ecebb998ab8074353efa4725d643
Author(s)
Abadie, Alberto
Date Issued
2021
Journal
Journal of Economic Literature
Publisher
American Economic Association
Citation
Abadie, Alberto. 2021. "Using Synthetic Controls: Feasibility, Data Requirements, and Methodological Aspects." Journal of Economic Literature, 59 (2).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Probably because of their interpretability and transparent nature, synthetic controls have become widely applied in empirical research in economics and the social sciences. This article aims to provide practical guidance to researchers employing synthetic control methods. The article starts with an overview and an introduction to synthetic control estimation. The main sections discuss the advantages of the synthetic control framework as a research design, and describe the settings where synthetic controls provide reliable estimates and those where they may fail. The article closes with a discussion of recent extensions, related methods, and avenues for future research. (JEL B41, C32, C54, E23, F15, O47)
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Economics
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1257/JEL.20191450
