Repository logo
 

The Use of Structural Models in Econometrics

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Meghir, C 

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of structural economic models in empirical analysis and policy design. The central payoff of a structural econometric model is that it allows an empirical researcher to go beyond the conclusions of a more conventional empirical study that provides reduced-form causal relationships. Structural models identify mechanisms that determine outcomes and are designed to analyze counterfactual policies, quantifying impacts on specific outcomes as well as effects in the short and longer run. We start by defining structural models, distinguishing between those that are fully specified and those that are partially specified. We contrast the treatment effects approach with structural models, and present an example of how a structural model is specified and the particular choices that were made. We cover combining structural estimation with randomized experiments. We then turn to numerical techniques for solving dynamic stochastic models that are often used in structural estimation, again with an example. The penultimate section focuses on issues of estimation using the method of moments.

Description

Keywords

38 Economics, 3801 Applied Economics, 3802 Econometrics, Generic health relevance

Journal Title

Journal of Economic Perspectives

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0895-3309
0895-3309

Volume Title

31

Publisher

American Economic Association
Sponsorship
Costas Meghir has been supported by the Cowles Foundation and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies (ISPS) at Yale University.