Wheat from Chaff: Meta-analysis as Quantitative Literature Review

T. Stanley

Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2001, vol. 15, issue 3, 131-150

Abstract: This paper presents and develops a quantitative method of literature reviewing and evaluating empirical research, meta-regression analysis or MRA. Economics is theory-driven. Yet, we must learn empirically if economics is to advance. MRA offers a more objective statistical method to summarize our empirical knowledge and to explain the wide study-to-study variation in economic research. MRA is used to assess the evidence for Ricardian equivalence, and its findings are contrasted to those of conventional narrative review. Furthermore, MRA establishes a platform from which to distinguish genuine empirical effect from the exploitable specification error that infests applied econometrics.

JEL-codes: A14 B41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.15.3.131
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (605)

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