RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 What Are We Weighting For?
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 301
OP 316
DO 10.3368/jhr.50.2.301
VO 50
IS 2
A1 Solon, Gary
A1 Haider, Steven J.
A1 Wooldridge, Jeffrey M.
YR 2015
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/50/2/301.abstract
AB When estimating population descriptive statistics, weighting is called for if needed to make the analysis sample representative of the target population. With regard to research directed instead at estimating causal effects, we discuss three distinct weighting motives: (1) to achieve precise estimates by correcting for heteroskedasticity; (2) to achieve consistent estimates by correcting for endogenous sampling; and (3) to identify average partial effects in the presence of unmodeled heterogeneity of effects. In each case, we find that the motive sometimes does not apply in situations where practitioners often assume it does.