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Development Economics

Regression Discontinuity Designs in Development Economics: Theory and Practice

Mastering Regression Discontinuity Designs for Causal Inference and Policy Evaluation in Development Economics

17.5h (5 days)

€775 - €1,375

Face to Face

English

Program date: July 14 - 18, 2025

Early bird deadline: April 15, 2025

Learn more

Regression Discontinuity Designs in Development Economics: Theory and Practice

Applications for 2025 Summer School programs are now open!

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Summer school

Development Economics

Regression Discontinuity Designs in Development Economics: Theory and Practice

This course teaches regression discontinuity designs (RDD) for causal inference in development economics. You’ll explore the theoretical and practical aspects of RDD and evaluate policies using real-world data.

Teaching Faculty

Get up to date with the latest developments in Regression Discontinuity Designs

This course is designed for:

Researchers and professionals interested in broadening their causal inference toolbox.
Graduate students aiming to deepen their theoretical and practical knowledge of RDD methods.

Master Regression Discontinuity Designs (RDD)

Take part in this course to be able to:

Understand the principles and applications of RDD for causal inference in development economics and policy evaluation.
Learn to use discontinuous implementation rules to create ideal empirical settings for causal inference.
Analyze policies targeting specific groups or regions using RDD, focusing on age groups, income levels, and geographical areas.
Grasp formal assumptions and interpretations for various RDD settings, including sharp, fuzzy, and spatial RDDs.
Gain hands-on experience with real-world implementation of RDD tools using Stata and R.
Build a comprehensive toolbox for applied empirical work and policy evaluation in developing economies.

Program Syllabus for Regression Discontinuity Designs in Development Economics: Theory and Practice

The course will cover the following topics:

Introduction to RDD, applications in development economics, and brush up

Revision of causal inference, selection into observables, and policy (causal) evaluation.
Overview of RDD methods and applications in (development) economics.
Practical session: brush up on econometrics with R and Stata.

Sharp RDD

Overview and assumptions.
The local nature of estimates and graphical evidence of discontinuities.
Estimation, validation, and testable implications of RD designs.
Practical session: replication of Britto (2022) and/or Dell (2010).

Fuzzy RDD

Overview and assumptions: RD as an instrument.
Additional assumptions and tests, (distinct) estimation nature and interpretation (LATE).
Practical session: replication of Alix-Garica (2013) and/or Lodoño-Vélez et al. (2020).

Spatial RDD

Overview and assumptions: spatial boundaries as discontinuities.
Additional (practical) aspects of spatial RDDs (e.g., geographical distances, buffers).
Practical session: replication of Burgess et al. (2019) and/or Hsiao (2023).

Additional RDD methods

Conceptual overview: RDD with discrete running variables, multiple cutoffs, kink RD designs, local randomization approach to RDDs.
Practical session: covering these tools with artificial data and/or applications in research.

List of References

Below are some texts that will help you prepare for the course

Course Textbooks

Angrist, J.D. and Pischke, J.S., 2009. Mostly harmless econometrics: An empiricist’s companion. Princeton university press.
Cattaneo, M.D., Idrobo, N. and Titiunik, R., 2019. A practical introduction to regression discontinuity designs: Foundations. Cambridge University Press.
Cattaneo, M.D., Idrobo, N. and Titiunik, R., 2023. A practical introduction to regression discontinuity designs: Extensions. arXiv preprint arXiv:2301.08958.

References

Alix-Garcia, J., McIntosh, C., Sims, K.R. and Welch, J.R., 2013. The ecological footprint of poverty alleviation: evidence from Mexico’s Oportunidades program. Review of Economics and Statistics, 95(2), pp.417-435.
Britto, D.G., 2022. The employment effects of lump-sum and contingent job insurance policies: Evidence from Brazil. Review of Economics and Statistics, 104(3), pp.465-482.
Burgess, R., Costa, F. and Olken, B.A., 2019. The Brazilian Amazon’s double reversal of fortune. Working paper.
Dell, M., 2010. The persistent effects of Peru’s mining mita. Econometrica, 78(6), pp.1863-1903.
Hsiao, A., 2022. Sea Level Rise and Urban Adaptation in Jakarta. Working paper.

Software / Hardware

Practical sessions require students to bring their own computer with either Stata or R Studio (or both).

Why join our Summer School?

All BSE Summer courses are taught to the same high standard as our Master’s programs. Join us to:

1

Network with like-minded peers.

2

Study in vibrant Barcelona.

3

Learn from world-renowned faculty.

Admissions and requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements.

Program date: July 14 - 18, 2025

Early bird deadline: April 15, 2025

Requirements

Summer School applicants normally demonstrate one or more of the following:

A strong background in Economics or a field closely related to the course topic (Statistics, Law, etc.).
Postgraduate degree or current Master’s/PhD studies related to the course topic.
Relevant professional experience.

Requirements for Regression Discontinuity Designs in Development Economics: Theory and Practice

Basic skills in econometrics, causal inference, and computation coding with Stata and/or R.

Apply now

Schedule

Here is your schedule for this edition of BSE Regression Discontinuity Designs in Development Economics: Theory and Practice course.

Time

14

mon

15

tue

16

wed

17

thu

18

fri

11:30 - 13:30

Lecture

16:15-17:45

Practical

Credit transfers (ECTS)

To be eligible for credit transfer, students will be assessed through problem sets given to them during the course.

For more details please refer to the Summer School Admissions page.

Certificate of Attendance

Participants not interested in credit transfer will instead receive a Certificate of Attendance free of charge. These Participants will not be graded or assessed during the course.

Fees for 2025

Fees for courses in other Summer School programs may vary. Multiple course discounts are available, consult our fees and discounts to learn more.

Course

Geospatial Tools for Development: Data and Inference

Complex Network Analysis: Tools for Economic Development

Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) in Development Economics

Macro-Development: Concepts, Facts and Tools

Regression Discontinuity Designs in Development Economics: Theory and Practice

Modality

Online

Face to Face

Total Hours

17.5

ECTS

1

Regular Fee

1,000€

1,375€

Reduced Fee*

600€

775€

FAQ’s

Need more information? Check out our FAQ section or contact our Admissions
Team.

Is accommodation included in the course fee?

Accommodation is not included in the course fee. Participants are responsible for finding accommodation.

Are the sessions recorded?

Sessions will be recorded and videos will be available for a month once the course has finished.

How much does each Summer School course cost?

Fees for each course may vary. Please consult each course page for accurate information.

Are there any discounts available?

Yes, BSE offers a variety of discounts on its Summer School courses. See more information about available discounts or request a personalized discount quote by email.