Randomised Controlled Trials : vimarsana.com

Randomised Controlled Trials
What can RCTs tell us?
Nowadays it is widely believed among mainstream economists that the scientific value of randomisation - contrary to other methods - is totally uncontroversial and that randomised experiments are free from bias. When looked at carefully, however, there are in fact few real reasons to share this optimism on the alleged experimental turn in economics. Strictly seen, randomisation does not guarantee anything.
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Ideally controlled experiments tell us with certainty what causes what effects - but only given the right closures. Making appropriate extrapolations from (ideal, accidental, natural or quasi) experiments to different settings, populations or target systems, is not easy. Causes deduced in an experimental setting still have to show that they come with an export-warrant to their target populations.