Invited Talk

Esther Duflo, Plumbers and Mechanics: How ML can complement RCT in policy experiments

Esther Duflo

Moderator: Florence d'Alché-Buc

[ Abstract ]
Wed 21 Jul 8 a.m. PDT — 9 a.m. PDT

Abstract:

In this talk, I discuss how approaches that may seem very different (randomized controlled trials and Machine Learning) can in fact be complementary. RCT can serve as a useful benchmark to evaluate the real world performance of ML strategies to recover causal effects. ML methods can be used to investigate treatment effect heterogeneity, sort through a large number of possible treatments, etc. The talk concludes with a wish list for Machine learning specialists.

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