On the Generalizability of Experimental Results in Economics: With A Response To Camerer / Omar Al-Ubaydli, John A. List.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Al-Ubaydli, Omar.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

List, John A.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w19666.

NBER working paper series no. w19666

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2013.

Summary:

Economists are increasingly turning to the experimental method as a means to estimate causal effects. By using randomization to identify key treatment effects, theories previously viewed as untestable are now scrutinized, efficacy of public policies are now more easily verified, and stakeholders can swiftly add empirical evidence to aid their decision-making. This study provides an overview of experimental methods in economics, with a special focus on developing an economic theory of generalizability. Given that field experiments are in their infancy, our secondary focus pertains to a discussion of the various parameters that they identify, and how they add to scientific knowledge. We conclude that until we conduct more field experiments that build a bridge between the lab and the naturally-occurring settings of interest we cannot begin to make strong conclusions empirically on the crucial question of generalizability from the lab to the field.

Notes:

Print version record

November 2013.