Statistical Nonsignificance in Empirical Economics

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review: Insights
Year: 2020
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Pages: 193-208

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

Statistical significance is often interpreted as providing greater information than nonsignificance. In this article we show, however, that rejection of a point null often carries very little information, while failure to reject may be highly informative. This is particularly true in empirical contexts that are common in economics, where datasets are large and there are rarely reasons to put substantial prior probability on a point null. Our results challenge the usual practice of conferring point null rejections a higher level of scientific significance than non-rejections. Therefore, we advocate visible reporting and discussion of nonsignificant results.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aerins:v:2:y:2020:i:2:p:193-208
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-24