Theoretical-Practical Training Course on Impact Evaluation
The aim of the course is to develop analytical and quantitative concepts and instruments to perform impact evaluations of public policies. The course place a strong emphasis on applied issues, using the statistical-econometric software Stata.
The targeted audience includes government officials with a technical profile who work in social areas (e.g. ministries of labor, economics, social development, statistical institutes), social analysts in the region, and advanced students and graduates in Economics and other social sciences.
It is recommeded to read as reference material the book: Gertler, Paul J., Sebastian Martinez, Patrick Premand, Laura B. Rawlings, and Christel MJ Vermeersch. Impact evaluation in practice. World Bank Publications. 2nd edition. 2016
The content of the course – carried out in Spanish – is developed over 5 days, with 6 hours of class each day (3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon). Each day includes a theoretical presentation for each topic followed by the discussion and implementation of empirical examples. In addition, an optative intensive one-day training on the basic use of Stata software is offered – at no additional cost.
The course will be taught at the Facultad de Ciencias Económicas of the Universidad Nacional de La Plata from September 3-7, 2018. Stata’s basic training will be held on September 1st, morning and afternoon.
A. The fundamental problem of Evaluation
a. Potencial results and selection bias
B. Experimental Methods
a. Randomization methods and levels.
b. Power calculations
c. Multiple treatments
d. Balance
e. Multiple testing
f. Sampling and surveys
C. Non experimental Methods: regression discontinuity design
a. Background
b. The evaluation problem and RD
i. The problem
ii. Sharp RD and Fuzzy RD
iii. Identification
iv. Treatment effects in RD and interpretation
v. External and internal validity
c. Implementation
i. Graphic analysis
ii. Regression model selection
iii. Test of validity for the RD model
iv. Robustness
d. Empirical examples
D. Non experimental methods: differences in differences and event study
a. Difference in differences:
i. The evaluation problem and DD
ii. Identification
iii. Inference
iv. External and internal validity
b. Event Studies:
i. Graphic analysis
ii. Test of validity
iii. Robustness
(*) The optional course day on Stata, which is held on the September 1st will cover the interfax of the program, database management and descriptive analysis. In particular, if you understand the contents of this file, you do not need to attend on Saturday.
The course will be taught by María Laura Alzúa, Guillermo Cruces*, Inés Berniell, and Santiago Garganta, all professors and researchers from CEDLAS of the Universidad Nacional de La Plata(UNLP). In addition, during the practical sessions, there will be one assistant for every five students. Here you can consult a list of courses given by CEDLAS members.
* To be confirmed
Those interested in participating in the course must complete the registration form. The number of vacancies is limited to 20; therefore, a selection process will be carried out taking into account academic training, geographic diversity and work experience. Registration closes on July 13th, but early enrollment is suggested.
The course has a cost of US $ 1000, which includes all material in electronic and printed format and lunches during the week of the course. The cost of the course can be paid by credit card. Medical insurance is compulsory and the participants are responsible for contracting it.
CEDLAS offers a limited number of scholarships of up to 50% off the fee of the course. Applicants must submit a short CV (two pages maximum), a letter of motivation, and a reference letter to cursos@cedlas.org. Those who have registered in earlier editions of the course can send the same letters of motivation and reference. The selection process will give priority to analysts who develop their activities in the public sector, and researchers of public or private research centers. Scholarships will be awarded as the registration process progresses.
CEDLAS is based at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata. La Plata is a university city with a very rich cultural life, and a high proportion of young people. The city has several tourist attractions of interest: the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Cathedral, and the Argentine Theater. The city is characterized by a planned layout, with streets, avenues, diagonals and tree-lined boulevards, in which the maximum distance to a park is 3 blocks. La Plata is located very close to the city of Buenos Aires: the center of that city is less than an hour’s journey, buses depart every 5 minutes from the La Plata Terminal.