TY  - JOUR
AU  - Lee,David S.
AU  - Lemieux,Thomas
TI  - Regression Discontinuity Designs in Economics
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 14723
PY  - 2009
Y2  - February 2009
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w14723
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w14723.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
David Lee
Industrial Relations Section
Princeton University
Firestone Library A-16-J
Princeton, NJ 08544
Tel: 609/258-9548
Fax: 609/258-2907
E-Mail: davidlee@princeton.edu

Thomas Lemieux
Department of Economics
University of British Columbia
#997-1873 East Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
CANADA
Tel: 604/822-2092
Fax: 604/822-5915
E-Mail: thomas.lemieux@ubc.ca
AB  - This paper provides an introduction and "user guide" to Regression Discontinuity (RD) designs for empirical researchers. It presents the basic theory behind the research design, details when RD is likely to be valid or invalid given economic incentives, explains why it is considered a "quasi-experimental" design, and summarizes different ways (with their advantages and disadvantages) of estimating RD designs and the limitations of interpreting these estimates. Concepts are discussed using examples drawn from the growing body of empirical research using RD.
ER  -