Difference-in-Differences Designs: A Practitioner’s Guide
Abstract
Difference-in-differences (DiD) is arguably the most popular quasi-experimental research design. Its canonical form, with two groups and two periods, is well understood. However, empirical practices can be ad hoc when researchers go beyond that simple case. This article provides an organizing framework for discussing different types of DiD designs and their associated DiD estimators. It discusses covariates, weights, handling multiple periods, and staggered treatments. The organizational framework, however, applies to other extensions of DiD methods as well. (JEL C23, H75, I12, I38)
Fields of Study & Subjects
Advanced Causal Inference Techniques
Behavioral and Psychological Studies
Statistical Methods in Clinical Trials
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Economic Literature
- Publisher
- American Economic Association
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 498–557
- Publication date
- 29 May 2026
- Language
- EN