BC 3018 Econometrics (Spring 2022)
Replication Assignment
The replication of empirical research is critical to the advancement of economics as a (social)
science. This semester you, in groups of approximately four students, will be conducting a
replication assignment in order to demonstrate many of your proficiencies in course concepts.
Using datasets corresponding to peer-reviewed empirical research,1 each student in collaboration
with their group members will:
1. Reproduce the main results from a paper chosen from the listed references in this document;
2. Conduct a meaningful econometric extension of the author’s (or authors’) work;
3. Write a final paper based on these findings and turn in any associated code for the project.
Deliverables associated with the group replication project are as follows:
• Paper Selection: Each group will be required to to choose a paper from the listed references
in this document no later than February 22, 2022 by 10 PM EST–with one group member
notifying the professor of their paper selection and group composition. There will only be
one paper per group and paper assignments will be determined on a first-come, first-serve
basis.
• Descriptive Figures, Tables, and Paper Summary: Each group will reproduce the au-
thor’s main descriptive tables with all of the relevant summary statistics along with any
main descriptive figures. Please make sure that all figure and table notes are sufficiently
comprehensive enough for future replication efforts.. What are the central points made by
the author(s) in producing these figures and tables? In addition to the replicated descriptive
1The only exception for accessible data (at the moment) is for Sansone (2019) who uses data from the American
Community Survey (ACS). However, these data are publicly available via IPUMS USA.
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tables and figures, students will also submit a brief two-page summary (double-spaced with
12 point Time New Roman font and one-inch margins) addressing each of the questions
below no later thanMarch 22, 2022 by 10 PM EST via Courseworks:
– Purpose of the Study: What are the research goals of the paper? Why is the paper of
economic, and if applicable, policy importance? What underlying economic theories
and mechanisms are being empirically tested within the paper (be specific)? Explicitly
state the research questions of the paper.
– Relevant Literature: What is the relevant academic research literature for this paper?
How does the author(s) view herself as contributing to this literature?
– Data: Describe each of the data sources being employed within this study. How
were they collected (e.g., administrative records, census, or survey) and what is the
unit of observation (e.g., person-year, city, or census block)? Describe all relevant
sample restrictions for the paper (i.e., what rules, procedures, and exceptions ultimately
determine who remains in the study sample?). Furthermore, describe the strengths and
limitations of these data. How are they ideal for examining the stated research questions
within the paper?
– Empirical Strategy: What are the precise econometric methodologies employed by the
authors in order to address their stated research questions (e.g., fixed effects regression,
difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, etc.)? What is the author’s main
identification strategy used in obtaining their estimates, if applicable (i.e., how do they
go about providing a clear causal interpretation for their main parameter of interest)?
Make sure that you explicitly state the estimating equations used by the authors in order
to produce their main results.
– Main Results: What are the main results of the paper (i.e., tables and figures)? Provide
a concise interpretation of their estimates and their significance.
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– Conclusions: How do the authors contextualize their results within the larger, relevant
literature? Are there any policy implications associated with their main findings? What
are the (econometric) strengths and limitations of the paper? Did the authors ultimately
achieve their stated research goals for the paper?
– Final thoughts: Provide some succinct remarks regarding your overall thoughts on the
paper. More importantly, describe a potential extension of interest and a preliminary
plan for carrying out this extension.
• Main Data Analysis and Extension: This submission should include the replicated main
results (figures and tables) and extended results for your chosen paper–leaving only the
interpretation of the results and final paper as the remaining deliverables for the project.
Do your results differ from the original results presented by the authors, and if so, why or
why not? Be specific. The extension will consist of an additional model of interest that
you believe will improve upon the original analysis. Why did you ultimately choose this
extension? Include one paragraph making your case. You should also include a one to two
paragraph update on your overall project progress. This submission should be turned in via
Courseworks no later than April 26, 2022 by 10 PM EST.
• Final Paper: The final research paper should be approximately 10 pages double-spaced
with 12 point Time New Roman font and one-inch margins. The full page count does
not include title pages, tables, or figures (or excessive block quotes and footnotes). Please
abstain from citing irrelevant anecdotal evidence, personal experiences, or referencing other
forms of non-scholarly work. Please cite all references using the Chicago Manual of Style
with author last name(s) and year within the text. Each paper should possess the following
sections: 1) Introduction, 2) Data Sources (original and any supplementary extension data), 3)
Original Empirical and Replication Strategies, 4) Replication Results, 5) Extension Results,
6) Discussion and Concluding Remarks, and 6) Appendix. Each final paper submission
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should separately include all code necessary to reproducing your results. The final paper is
due via Courseworks byMay 3, 2022 by 10 PM EST.
• Team Member Evaluation Form: Each group member must also submit a peer evaluation
form via Courseworks no later than May 3, 2022 by the 10 PM EST deadline as well. This
evaluation counts towards each student’s overall grade on the project.
References
Botelho, F., R. A. Madeira, and M. A. Rangel (2015). Racial discrimination in grading: Evidence
from brazil. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 7(4), 37–52.
Burke, M. and K. Emerick (2016). Adaptation to climate change: Evidence from us agriculture.
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 8(3), 106–40.
Carlana, M. (2019). Implicit stereotypes: Evidence from teachers’ gender bias. The Quarterly
Journal of Economics 134(3), 1163–1224.
Chen, Y., Z. Fan, X. Gu, and L.-A. Zhou (2020). Arrival of young talent: The send-downmovement
and rural education in china. American Economic Review 110(11), 3393–3430.
Currie, J. and E. Tekin (2012). Understanding the cycle childhood maltreatment and future crime.
Journal of Human Resources 47(2), 509–549.
Doleac, J. L. and B. Hansen (2020). The unintended consequences of “ban the box”: Statistical
discrimination and employment outcomes when criminal histories are hidden. Journal of Labor
Economics 38(2), 321–374.
Dube, A., T.W. Lester, andM. Reich (2010). Minimumwage effects across state borders: Estimates
using contiguous counties. The review of economics and statistics 92(4), 945–964.
Fryer Jr, R. G. and S. D. Levitt (2010). An empirical analysis of the gender gap in mathematics.
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 2(2), 210–40.
Hoekstra, M. and S. Orozco-Aleman (2017). Illegal immigration, state law, and deterrence.
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 9(2), 228–52.
Kilian, L. and C. Vega (2011). Do energy prices respond to us macroeconomic news? a test of the
hypothesis of predetermined energy prices. Review of Economics and Statistics 93(2), 660–671.
Levinson, A. (2016). How much energy do building energy codes save? evidence from california
houses. American Economic Review 106(10), 2867–94.
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Myers, C. K. (2017). The power of abortion policy: Reexamining the effects of young women’s
access to reproductive control. Journal of Political Economy 125(6), 2178–2224.
Price, J. and J. Wolfers (2010). Racial discrimination among nba referees. The Quarterly Journal
of Economics 125(4), 1859–1887.
Sansone, D. (2019). Pink work: Same-sex marriage, employment and discrimination. Journal of
Public Economics 180, 104086.
Sharkey, P., G. Torrats-Espinosa, and D. Takyar (2017). Community and the crime decline: The
causal effect of local nonprofits on violent crime. American Sociological Review 82(6), 1214–
1240.
Stevenson, B. and J. Wolfers (2006). Bargaining in the shadow of the law: Divorce laws and family
distress. The Quarterly Journal of Economics 121(1), 267–288.
Tuttle, C. (2019). Snapping back: Food stamp bans and criminal recidivism. American Economic
Journal: Economic Policy 11(2), 301–27.
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