Absorptive Capacity and the Growth and Investment Effects of Regional Transfers: A Regression Discontinuity Design with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Year: 2013
Volume: 5
Issue: 4
Pages: 29-77

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Researchers often estimate average treatment effects of programs without investigating heterogeneity across units. Yet, individuals, firms, regions, or countries vary in their ability to utilize transfers. We analyze Objective 1 transfers of the EU to regions below a certain income level by way of a regression discontinuity design with systematically varying heterogeneous treatment effects. Only about 30 percent and 21 percent of the regions?those with sufficient human capital and good-enough institutions?are able to turn transfers into faster per capita income growth and per capita investment, respectively. In general, the variance of the treatment effect is much bigger than its mean.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejpol:v:5:y:2013:i:4:p:29-77
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-24