*! version 0.95 12Aug2017

Title

rdbounds_sampledata -- Generate a simulated dataset for use with the rdbounds command

Syntax

rdbounds_sampledata
,[
samplesize(#)
covs
]
clear

Description

This function replaces the current dataset in memory with a simulated sample dataset for testing of rdbounds.

The x-values of potentially-assigned units (95% of sample) are normally distributed (variance of 5, censored at -10 and 10) around zero (the cutoff) and always-assigned units (5% of sample) follow a triangular distribution from the cutoff (x=0) to x=5. A random 5% of all units are never-takers, another 25% are always-takers, and the remaining units are compliers. Outcome values are then generated with a treatment effect of 2 for potentially-assigned units, 5 for always-assigned units, and following a linear trend with some normally distributed noise.
Specifically: y=(x+10)/2*treatment*(alwaysassigned=0)+5*treatment*(alwaysassigned=1)+normal(0,1)) and y is censored at 0 and 23.

Options

samplesize( #) number # of observations to include in the dataset. Defaults to 30,000.

covs if set, a covariate will be included in the dataset.

covs required to allow rdbounds_sampledata to replace the current data in memory.

Example: simulated sample data

Generate sample data of 50,000 observations

. rdbounds_sampledata, samplesize(50000) covs clear

References

F. Gerard, M. Rokkanen, and C. Rothe. 2016. Bounds on Treatment Effects in Regression Discontinuity Designs under Manipulation of the Running Variable, with an Application to Unemployment Insurance in Brazil. NBER Working Paper 22892. http://www.nber.org/papers/w22892.

Authors

Francois Gerard, Columbia University.
fgerard@columbia.edu.

Leonard Goff, Columbia University.
leonard.goff@columbia.edu.

Miikka Rokkanen, Amazon.
miikka.rokkanen@gmail.com.

Christoph Rothe, University of Mannheim.
rothe@vwl.uni-mannheim.de.

See Also

rdbounds