An Introduction to the Augmented Inverse Propensity Weighted Estimator

Citation:

Glynn AN, Quinn KM. An Introduction to the Augmented Inverse Propensity Weighted Estimator. Political Analysis. 2010;18 (1) :36-56.
AIPW.pdf1.19 MB

Abstract:

In this paper we discuss an estimator for average treatment effects known as the augmented inverse propensity weighted (AIPW). This estimator has attractive theoretical properties and only requires practitioners to do two things they are already comfortable with: (1) specify a binary regression model for the propensity score, and (2) specify a regression model for the outcome variable. After explaining the AIPW estimator, we conduct a Monte Carlo experiment that compares the performance of the AIPW estimator to three common competitors: a regression estimator, an inverse propensity weighted (IPW) estimator, and a propensity score matching estimator. The Monte Carlo results show that the AIPW estimator is dramatically superior to the other estimators in many situations and at least as good as the other estimators across a wide range of data generating processes.
Last updated on 07/24/2014