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Frontiers of Economics in China

ISSN 1673-3444

ISSN 1673-3568(Online)

CN 11-5744/F

Postal Subscription Code 80-978

Front Econ Chin    2012, Vol. 7 Issue (2) : 163-192    https://doi.org/10.3868/s060-001-012-0008-8
research-article
Returns to Lying? Identifying the Effects of Misreporting When the Truth Is Unobserved
Yingyao Hu1(), Arthur Lewbel2()
1. Department of Economics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; 2. Department of Economics, Boston College, Boston, MA 02467, USA
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Abstract

Consider an observed binary regressor D and an unobserved binary variable D?, both of which affect some other variable Y . This paper considers nonparametric identification and estimation of the effect of D on Y , conditioning on D? = 0. For example, suppose Y is a person’s wage, the unobserved D? indicates if the person has been to college, and the observed D indicates whether the individual claims to have been to college. This paper then identifies and estimates the difference in average wages between those who falsely claim college experience versus those who tell the truth about not having college. We estimate this average effect of lying to be about 6% to 20%. Nonparametric identification without observing D? is obtained either by observing a variable V that is roughly analogous to an instrument for ordinary measurement error, or by imposing restrictions on model error moments.

Keywords binary regressor      misclassification      measurement error      unobserved factor      discrete factor      program evaluation      treatment effects      returns to schooling      wage model     
Corresponding Author(s): Yingyao Hu,Email:yhu@jhu.edu; Arthur Lewbel,Email:lewbel@bc.edu   
Issue Date: 05 June 2012
 Cite this article:   
Yingyao Hu,Arthur Lewbel. Returns to Lying? Identifying the Effects of Misreporting When the Truth Is Unobserved[J]. Front Econ Chin, 2012, 7(2): 163-192.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fec/EN/10.3868/s060-001-012-0008-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fec/EN/Y2012/V7/I2/163
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