American Economic Review Vol. 110 No. 7 2020
Experimentation, Innovation, and Economics
Abstract
The experimental method not only helps identify causal relationships, but also provides economists with a rich sense of context, focuses research on specific practical questions, stimulates collaboration with practitioners and specialists from other fields, and allows for rapid iteration. In this lecture, I present a series of examples illustrating how together these features make the experimental approach a powerful tool for advancing scientific understanding, informing policy, and promoting innovation. I then discuss how institutions can be designed to accelerate innovation and direct it toward the world’s most pressing needs.
- DOI
- 10.1257/aer.110.7.1974
- Volume
- 110
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1974-1994
- Language
- en
- Sources
- bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref