DP13781 Treatment Effects with Heterogeneous Externalities

Author(s):	Tiziano Arduini, Eleonora Patacchini, Edoardo Rainone
Publication Date:	June 2019
Keyword(s):	Indirect Treatment E�ec, Program evaluation, Two-Stage Least Squares
JEL(s):	C13, C21, D62
Programme Areas:	Public Economics, Development Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=13781

This paper proposes a new method for estimating heterogeneous externalities in policy analysis when social interactions take the linear-in-means form. We establish that the parameters of interest can be identified and consistently estimated using specific functions of the share of the eligible population. We also study the finite sample performance of the proposed estimators using Monte Carlo simulations. The method is illustrated using data on the PROGRESA program. We find that more than 50 percent of the effects of the program on schooling attendance are due to externalities, which are heterogeneous within and between poor and nonpoor households.