Questions about Questions (Chapter 1)

The Experimental Ideal (Chapter 2)

Making Regression Make Sense (Chapter 3)

Instrumental Variables in Action: Sometimes You Get What You Need (Chapter 4)

Parallel Worlds: Fixed Effects, Difference-in-differences, and Panel Data (Chapter 5)

Getting a Little Jumpy: Regression Discontinuity Designs (Chapter 6)

Quantile Regression (Chapter 7)

Nonstandard Standard Error Issues (Chapter 8)

DON'T PANIC! The core methods in today's econometric toolkit are linear regression for statistical control, instrumental variables methods for the analysis of natural experiments, and differences-in-differences methods that exploit policy changes. In the modern experimentalist paradigm, these techniques answer clear causal questions such as: Do smaller classes increase learning? Do minimum wages reduce employment? Should wife batterers be arrested? How much does education raise earnings? Mostly Harmless Econometrics shows how the basic tools of applied econometrics allow the data to speak.

In addition to econometric essentials, Mostly Harmless Econometrics covers important new extensions -- regression discontinuity designs and quantile regression -- as well as how to get standard errors right. Angrist and Pischke explain why fancier techniques are typically unnecessary and even dangerous. The applied econometric methods emphasized in this book are easy to use and relevant for many areas of contemporary social science.

• An irreverent review of econometric essentials
• A focus on tools that applied researchers use most
• Chapters on regression-discontinuity designs, quantile regression and standard errors
• Many empirical examples
• A clear and concise resource with wide applications