Inhaltsbereich: Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung
Field experiments in policy evaluation
International Conference
Date
October 18 - 19, 2012
Location
The conference will be held at the Congress Centre of the German Federal Enployment Agency, Regensburger Str. 104 in Nuremberg, Germany, Room 164.
Abstract
Randomized experiments are considered the “golden standard” of causal analysis and have become an important tool in policy evaluations. Random assignment ensures that treated and controls are comparable in their characteristics before the policy intervention; any observable differences afterwards can be attributed to the intervention.
In social sciences, field experiments are a favorable design to investigate the effects of controlled interventions – leaving the subjects of study in their natural environment. However, conducting field experiments poses several methodical challenges like external validity, spillover effects, dynamic selection, or Hawthorne effects.
The conference focuses on policy evaluations using a field experimental design. Studies addressing one of the following fields are particularly welcome:
- Labor market policy
- Education
- Health
Keynote Speakers
- Michael Rosholm (University of Aarhus)
- Bruno Crépon (Crest-Insee)
- Gerard Van den Berg (University of Mannheim)
Scientific Committee
- Burt Barnow (George Washington University)
- Gerard van den Berg (University of Mannheim)
- Barbara Hofmann (IAB and University of Mannheim)
- Regina Riphahn (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)
- Claus Schnabel (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)
- Gesine Stephan (IAB and University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)
- Arne Uhlendorff (University of Mannheim and IAB)
Submission
The deadline for submissions is June 15, 2012. Please submit electronic versions of completed papers (pdf preferred) to field2012@iab.de. You will be notified on acceptance of your paper until July 15, 2012.
Travel costs
One presenter per accepted papers will receive a travel grant, which is limited to a maximum of € 500 per paper.
Conference fee
There will be no fee for presenters of accepted papers. For all other participants the conference fee will be € 80.
Additional information
Partner
Center of Econometrics and Empirical Economics (University of Mannheim)

Labor and Socio Economic Research Center (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)
