Assigned readings

List of assigned papers and download links.

A longer list of references, specific to each lecture is available in the lecture pages (eg here)

TWFE

Two-way fixed effects and differences-in-differences with heterogeneous treatment effects: a survey (de Chaisemartin and D’Haultfœuille 2023)

Abstract: Linear regressions with period and group fixed effects are widely used to estimate policies’ effects: 26 of the 100 most cited papers published by the American Economic Review from 2015 to 2019 estimate such regressions. It has recently been shown that those regressions may produce misleading estimates if the policy’s effect is heterogeneous between groups or over time, as is often the case. This survey reviews a fast-growing literature that documents this issue and that proposes alternative estimators robust to heterogeneous effects. We use those alternative estimators to revisit Wolfers (2006a).

Shift-Share Instruments

A Practical Guide to Shift-Share Instruments (Borusyak, Hull, and Jaravel 2025)

Abstract: A recent econometric literature shows two distinct paths for identification with shift-share instruments, leveraging either many exogenous shifts or exogenous shares. We present the core logic of both paths and practical takeaways via simple checklists. A variety of empirical settings illustrate key points.

References

Borusyak, Kirill, Peter Hull, and Xavier Jaravel. 2025. “A Practical Guide to Shift-Share Instruments.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 39 (1): 181–204. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.20231370.
de Chaisemartin, Clément, and Xavier D’Haultfœuille. 2023. “Two-Way Fixed Effects and Differences-in-Differences with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects: A Survey.” The Econometrics Journal 26 (3): C1–30. https://doi.org/10.1093/ectj/utac017.