Melissa Dell's Comparative Research Methodology for the Mita System
Economist Melissa Dell implemented a comparative study to isolate the long-term effects of the Mita system using a discontinuity design. The geographic boundary of the Mita region, located in areas of modern-day Bolivia and Peru, served as the discontinuity, as depicted on a map of the area. This boundary divided the indigenous population into a treatment group (communities inside the boundary subject to forced labor) and a control group (adjacent communities outside the boundary that were exempt). To ensure the groups were comparable, Dell focused her analysis on areas near the boundary where other variables, such as elevation and ethnic distribution, were similar. By comparing the current-day outcomes of villages just inside and just outside this boundary, she could identify the causal impact of the historical Mita system on current-day outcomes.
0
1
Tags
Library Science
Economics
Economy
Social Science
Empirical Science
Science
CORE Econ
Introduction to Microeconomics Course
Ch.5 The rules of the game: Who gets what and why - The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
Learn After
Findings from Dell's Study on the Mita System's Lasting Effects
Divided Germany: A Natural Experiment on Capitalism and Central Planning
Discontinuity Technique in Econometrics
Geographic Boundary as a Discontinuity in the Mita Study
A study investigated the long-term economic impact of a historical forced labor system by comparing outcomes in villages just inside the system's geographic boundary with villages just outside of it. Why is this specific comparison of adjacent villages a methodologically sound approach for identifying the system's true effects?
Designing a Historical Impact Study
A study examines the long-term economic impact of a historical forced labor system by comparing outcomes in communities located just inside the system's geographic boundary with communities located just outside of it. The logic is that communities near the boundary are similar in most respects, except for their historical exposure to the system. Which of the following potential issues represents the most significant threat to the validity of this research design's conclusion?
Evaluating Alternative Research Designs
A historical study analyzed the long-term effects of a forced labor system by comparing communities on either side of the system's fixed geographic boundary. Match each element of this research design with its correct description in the context of the study.
In a study analyzing the long-term effects of a historical forced labor system defined by a geographic boundary, the most robust comparison for establishing a causal link would be between a randomly selected community deep within the boundary and a randomly selected community far outside of it.
Controlling for Confounding Variables
A researcher wants to use a historical geographic boundary to isolate the long-term causal effects of a specific policy that was applied to only one side. Arrange the following steps into the correct logical sequence for conducting this type of study.
Critique of a Proposed Research Design
A study uses a historical geographic boundary to analyze the long-term impact of an economic system that was applied only to communities on one side. The analysis reveals a sharp drop in household wealth for communities located just inside the boundary compared to those just outside. For this 'discontinuity' in wealth to be validly interpreted as the causal effect of the historical system, which of the following must be the most critical assumption?