Econometric Evaluation of Socio-Economic Programs

This book provides advanced theoretical and applied tools for the implementation of modern micro-econometric techniques in evidence-based program evaluation for the social sciences. The author presents a comprehensive toolbox for designing rigorous and effective ex-post program evaluation using the statistical software package Stata. For each method, a statistical presentation is developed, followed by a practical estimation of the treatment effects. By using both real and simulated data, readers will become familiar with evaluation techniques, such as regression-adjustment, matching, difference-in-differences, instrumental-variables and regression-discontinuity-design and are given practical guidelines for selecting and applying suitable methods for specific policy contexts.

“This book gives a comprehensive account of micro-econometric techniques for such evidence-based programme evaluation in the social sciences. … gives an up-to-date account of the subject and a comprehensive description of each technique, covering both theoretical aspects and issues of application such as model checking, accuracy and reliability of results, and computation including related software. … book is well written and clearly arranged and can be recommended to all statisticians with an interest in programme evaluation in the social sciences.” (Peter Hackl, Statistics Papers, Vol. 57, 2016)

Giovanni Cerulli is researcher at CNR-IRCrES (National Research Council of Italy - Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth). He took a degree in Statistics and a PhD in Economic Sciences from Sapienza University of Rome. His research deals with both theoretical and applied econometrics of program evaluation, including dose-response models, program evaluation with peer effects, and software development for quantitative evaluation purposes. He boasts a consolidated expertise in the evaluation of R&D and innovation policies. Giovanni Cerulli is editor-in-chief of the “International Journal of Computational Economics and Econometrics” (IJCEE), and coordinator of GRAPE (Research Group on the Analysis of Economic Policies). His publications have appeared in prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journals.