PP5001
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PP5001: Causal Inference for Policy Analysis

Professor David A Jaeger

Week Topic and notes Empirical Example(s) In class After class
1 Selection Bias and Experiments Vaccination incentives Slides · PDF Exercise
2 Matching Supported Work Slides · PDF PS1
3 Instrumental variables and LATE Oregon Health Insurance Experiment Slides · PDF Exercise
4 IV in practice: judges and examiners Pre-trial detention; Disability insurance Slides · PDF Exercise
5 Weak instruments Compulsory schooling Slides · PDF PS2
6 Independent learning week — — —
7 Regression discontinuity designs (RDD) Elections; Class size Slides · PDF Exercise
8 Basic difference-in-differences Minimum wage; E-ZPass Slides · PDF Exercise
9 Two-way fixed effects and event studies Fertility Slides · PDF Exercise
10 Modern difference-in-differences Minimum wage revisited Slides · PDF Exercise
11 Synthetic controls German reunification; California tobacco control Slides · PDF Exercise

Read the notes and assigned papers before class. The notes are also a reference for reviewing the material and working through exercises afterwards. The Week 2 practice forms Problem Set 1, and the Week 5 practice forms Problem Set 2.

Assessment

Problem Set 1 is due in Week 3, Problem Set 2 in Week 7 and the Policy Critique in Week 9. The Evaluation Game takes place in Week 11.

See the assessment page for exact deadlines and the Evaluation Game schedule.

Source Code
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| Week | Topic and notes | Empirical Example(s) | In class | After class |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| 1 | [Selection Bias and Experiments](sessions/01-experiments.qmd) | Vaccination incentives | [Slides](slides/01-experiments.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/01-experiments.pdf) | [Exercise](exercises/01-experiments.qmd) |
| 2 | <span id="week-2"></span>[Matching](sessions/02-matching.qmd) | Supported Work | [Slides](slides/02-matching.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/02-matching.pdf) | [PS1](exercises/02-matching.qmd) |
| 3 | <span id="week-3"></span>[Instrumental variables and LATE](sessions/03-iv-late.qmd) | Oregon Health Insurance Experiment | [Slides](slides/03-iv-late.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/03-iv-late.pdf) | [Exercise](exercises/03-iv-late.qmd) |
| 4 | <span id="week-4"></span>[IV in practice: judges and examiners](sessions/04-judges-examiners.qmd) | Pre-trial detention; Disability insurance | [Slides](slides/04-judges-examiners.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/04-judges-examiners.pdf) | [Exercise](exercises/04-judges-examiners.qmd) |
| 5 | <span id="week-5"></span>[Weak instruments](sessions/05-weak-instruments.qmd) | Compulsory schooling | [Slides](slides/05-weak-instruments.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/05-weak-instruments.pdf) | [PS2](exercises/05-weak-instruments.qmd) |
| 6 | Independent learning week | — | — | — |
| 7 | <span id="week-7"></span>[Regression discontinuity designs (RDD)](sessions/07-rdd.qmd) | Elections; Class size | [Slides](slides/07-rdd.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/07-rdd.pdf) | [Exercise](exercises/07-rdd.qmd) |
| 8 | <span id="week-8"></span>[Basic difference-in-differences](sessions/08-diff-in-diff.qmd) | Minimum wage; E-ZPass | [Slides](slides/08-diff-in-diff.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/08-diff-in-diff.pdf) | [Exercise](exercises/08-diff-in-diff.qmd) |
| 9 | <span id="week-9"></span>[Two-way fixed effects and event studies](sessions/09-twfe-event-studies.qmd) | Fertility | [Slides](slides/09-twfe-event-studies.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/09-twfe-event-studies.pdf) | [Exercise](exercises/09-twfe-event-studies.qmd) |
| 10 | <span id="week-10"></span>[Modern difference-in-differences](sessions/10-modern-did.qmd) | Minimum wage revisited | [Slides](slides/10-modern-did.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/10-modern-did.pdf) | [Exercise](exercises/10-modern-did.qmd) |
| 11 | <span id="week-11"></span>[Synthetic controls](sessions/11-synthetic-controls.qmd) | German reunification; California tobacco control | [Slides](slides/11-synthetic-controls.qmd) · [PDF](resources/slides/11-synthetic-controls.pdf) | [Exercise](exercises/11-synthetic-controls.qmd) |

Read the notes and assigned papers before class. The notes are also a reference for reviewing the material and working through exercises afterwards. The Week 2 practice forms Problem Set 1, and the Week 5 practice forms Problem Set 2.

## Assessment

**Problem Set 1** is due in Week 3, **Problem Set 2** in Week 7 and the **Policy Critique** in Week 9. The **Evaluation Game** takes place in Week 11.

See the [assessment page](assessments.qmd) for exact deadlines and the Evaluation Game schedule.

PP5001 · Master of Public Policy · Martinmas 2026