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Policy Targeting under Network Interference

delete2024-04-10
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OA
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V
Viviano, Davide *
DOI:10.1093/restud/rdae041delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
This article studies the problem of optimally allocating treatments in the presence of spillover effects, using information from a (quasi-)experiment. I introduce a method that maximizes the sample analogue of average social welfare when spillovers occur. I construct semi-parametric welfare estimators with known and unknown propensity scores and cast the optimization problem into a mixed-integer linear program, which can be solved using off-the-shelf algorithms. I derive a strong set of guarantees on regret, i.e. the difference between the maximum attainable welfare and the welfare evaluated at the estimated policy. The proposed method presents attractive features for applications: (i) it does not require network information of the target population; (ii) it exploits heterogeneity in treatment effects for targeting individuals; (iii) it does not rely on the correct specification of a particular structural model; and (iv) it accommodates constraints on the policy function. An application for targeting information on social networks illustrates the advantages of the method.
Keywords:
Causal inference
Welfare maximization
Spillovers
Social interactions

Journal

Review of Economic Studies cover
Review of Economic Studies
IF:
6.4
Papers:
2.5K
Citations:
2.1W

Organization

H
Harvard University
Scholars:
26.5W
Papers: 22.0W
Citations: 28.7W