domains / families / research / jpam-theory-building

jpam-theory-building

separate

Use when building the conceptual frame of a Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (JPAM) manuscript — the theory of change / logic model linking the policy lever to outcomes, the mechanism, and the scope conditions that govern transfer to other settings. Sharpens the argument; it does not run estimation or design identification.

When to use

• Specifying the logic model / theory of change
• Answering reviewer questions about mechanism or generalization
• Deciding theory-driven heterogeneity and mediation analyses
• Framing scope conditions for external validity and scale-up
• Building the causal chain from lever to mechanism to outcome
• Defining behavioral or institutional micro-foundations
• Predicting heterogeneity before estimation
• Flagging unintended effects and general equilibrium responses

When not to use

• Running estimation
• Designing identification

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