Difference-in-Differences to Identify Causal Effects of COVID-19 Policies

Andrew Goodman-Bacon and Jan Marcus

No 1870, Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin from DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research

Abstract: Policymakers have implemented a wide range of non-pharmaceutical interventions to fight the spread of COVID-19. Variation in policies across jurisdictions and over time strongly suggests a difference-in-differences (DD) research design to estimate causal effects of counter-COVID measures. We discuss threats to the validity of these DD designs and make recommendations about how researchers can avoid bias, interpret results accurately, and provide sound guidance to policymakers seeking to protect public health and facilitate an eventual economic recovery.

Keywords: Difference-in-differences; non-pharmaceutical interventions; COVID-19; causal inference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C1 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 5, II p.
Date: 2020
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (83)

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