Causal inference by quantile regression kink designs

Harold D. Chiang and Yuya Sasaki

Journal of Econometrics, 2019, vol. 210, issue 2, 405-433

Abstract: The quantile regression kink design (QRKD) is proposed by empirical researchers, but its causal interpretation remains unknown. We show that the QRKD estimand measures a weighted average of heterogeneous marginal effects at respective conditional quantiles of outcome given a designed kink point. We also derive limit processes for the QRKD estimator to conduct statistical inference on heterogeneous treatment effects using the QRKD. Applying our methods to the Continuous Wage and Benefit History Project (CWBH) data, we find heterogeneous positive causal effects of unemployment insurance benefits on unemployment durations. These effects are larger for individuals with longer unemployment durations.

Keywords: Causal inference; Heterogeneous treatment effects; Identification; Regression kink design; Quantile regression; Unemployment duration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C14 C21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:econom:v:210:y:2019:i:2:p:405-433

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconom.2019.02.005

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