American Economic Journal:
Microeconomics
ISSN 1945-7669 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7685 (Online)
Which Findings Should Be Published?
American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
vol. 14,
no. 1, February 2022
(pp. 1–38)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
Given a scarcity of journal space, what is the optimal rule for whether an empirical finding should be published? Suppose publications inform the public about a policy-relevant state. Then journals should publish extreme results, meaning ones that move beliefs sufficiently. This optimal rule may take the form of a one- or two-sided test comparing a point estimate to the prior mean, with critical values determined by a cost-benefit analysis. Consideration of future studies may additionally justify the publication of precise null results. If one insists that standard inference remain valid, however, publication must not select on the study's findings.Citation
Frankel, Alexander, and Maximilian Kasy. 2022. "Which Findings Should Be Published?" American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 14 (1): 1–38. DOI: 10.1257/mic.20190133Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D61 Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
- D82 Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
- D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
- L82 Entertainment; Media
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