Measuring What Matters in Development: Research Design in Applied Micro-econometrics

Jean-Marie Baland and François Libois ()
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Jean-Marie Baland: UNamur - Université de Namur [Namur], BREAD, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research
François Libois: PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris

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Abstract: X causes Y often is the highlight of many papers in development and environmental economics. But this can only be a valid claim if researchers carefully measure X and Y and soundly relate them. The purpose of this paper is to clarify some of the important choices that every empirical researcher must make and which -should -constitute implicit knowledge within the community of experienced researchers. The paper first discusses the conceptual design of a study and then goes on to some implementation details. Overall, this contribution aims at sharing soft skills in applied economics and reducing the entry barrier for researchers into the field.

Keywords: Study design; Model specification; Sample selection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-06
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-05659061v1
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