""" Quasi-Experimental Causal Inference Methods When randomized experiments are impossible, quasi-experimental designs provide credible causal identification under weaker assumptions. Core methods: 1. Synthetic Control Method (SCM): Construct counterfactual from weighted controls 2. Difference-in-Differences (DiD): Compare treatment vs control before/after 3. Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD): Exploit threshold-based treatment assignment 4. Instrumental Variables (IV): Use exogenous variation to identify causal effects 5. Causal Forests: Machine learning for heterogeneous treatment effects Applications in geopolitics: - SCM: Effect of sanctions on target country (compare to synthetic control) - DiD: Impact of regime change (compare neighboring countries before/after) - RDD: Effect of election outcomes (winners vs losers near threshold) - IV: Effect of trade on conflict (use geographic instruments) """ import numpy as np from scipy import optimize, stats from typing import Dict, List, Tuple, Optional, Union from dataclasses import dataclass import warnings @dataclass class SyntheticControlResult: """Results from Synthetic Control Method.""" weights: np.ndarray # Weights on control units treated_outcome: np.ndarray # Actual treated unit outcomes synthetic_outcome: np.ndarray # Synthetic control outcomes treatment_effect: np.ndarray # Difference (post-treatment) pre_treatment_fit: float # RMSPE in pre-treatment period control_units: List[str] # Names of control units treatment_time: int # Index where treatment starts p_value: Optional[float] = None # From permutation test @dataclass class DIDResult: """Results from Difference-in-Differences.""" att: float # Average Treatment effect on Treated se: float # Standard error t_stat: float p_value: float pre_treatment_diff: float # Check parallel trends post_treatment_diff: float n_treated: int n_control: int @dataclass class RDDResult: """Results from Regression Discontinuity Design.""" treatment_effect: float # Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE) se: float t_stat: float p_value: float bandwidth: float n_left: int # Observations below cutoff n_right: int # Observations above cutoff @dataclass class IVResult: """Results from Instrumental Variables estimation.""" beta_iv: np.ndarray # IV estimates beta_ols: np.ndarray # OLS estimates (for comparison) se_iv: np.ndarray # Standard errors first_stage_f: float # First stage F-statistic weak_instrument: bool # True if F < 10 class SyntheticControlMethod: """ Synthetic Control Method (Abadie, Diamond, Hainmueller 2010, 2015) Creates a synthetic version of the treated unit as a weighted average of control units to estimate counterfactual outcomes. Key idea: If we can match pre-treatment outcomes and covariates perfectly, the synthetic control provides a valid counterfactual. Example: >>> # Effect of sanctions on Iran's GDP >>> scm = SyntheticControlMethod() >>> result = scm.fit( ... treated_outcome=iran_gdp, # (T,) ... control_outcomes=other_countries_gdp, # (T, J) ... treatment_time=20, # Sanctions imposed at t=20 ... treated_covariates=iran_covariates, # (K,) ... control_covariates=other_covariates # (J, K) ... ) >>> print(f"Average treatment effect: {np.mean(result.treatment_effect):.2f}") """ def __init__(self, loss: str = 'l2'): """ Initialize SCM. Args: loss: Loss function for matching ('l2' or 'l1') """ self.loss = loss def fit(self, treated_outcome: np.ndarray, control_outcomes: np.ndarray, treatment_time: int, treated_covariates: Optional[np.ndarray] = None, control_covariates: Optional[np.ndarray] = None, control_names: Optional[List[str]] = None, custom_weights: Optional[np.ndarray] = None) -> SyntheticControlResult: """ Fit synthetic control model. Args: treated_outcome: Outcome for treated unit, shape (T,) control_outcomes: Outcomes for control units, shape (T, J) treatment_time: Time index when treatment begins treated_covariates: Covariates for treated unit, shape (K,) control_covariates: Covariates for controls, shape (J, K) control_names: Names of control units custom_weights: Optional custom weights for different predictors Returns: SyntheticControlResult with estimated effects """ T, J = control_outcomes.shape if control_names is None: control_names = [f"control_{j}" for j in range(J)] # Pre-treatment period Y1_pre = treated_outcome[:treatment_time] Y0_pre = control_outcomes[:treatment_time, :] # Construct predictors matrix if treated_covariates is not None and control_covariates is not None: # Include both outcomes and covariates X1 = np.concatenate([Y1_pre, treated_covariates]) X0 = np.vstack([Y0_pre.T, control_covariates.T]) # Shape: (J, T_pre + K) else: # Use only pre-treatment outcomes X1 = Y1_pre X0 = Y0_pre.T # Shape: (J, T_pre) # Find weights that minimize ||X1 - X0 w|| weights = self._optimize_weights(X1, X0, custom_weights) # Construct synthetic control synthetic_outcome = control_outcomes @ weights # Compute treatment effects (post-treatment) treatment_effect = np.zeros(T) treatment_effect[treatment_time:] = ( treated_outcome[treatment_time:] - synthetic_outcome[treatment_time:] ) # Pre-treatment fit quality pre_treatment_fit = np.sqrt(np.mean((Y1_pre - synthetic_outcome[:treatment_time]) ** 2)) return SyntheticControlResult( weights=weights, treated_outcome=treated_outcome, synthetic_outcome=synthetic_outcome, treatment_effect=treatment_effect, pre_treatment_fit=pre_treatment_fit, control_units=control_names, treatment_time=treatment_time ) def _optimize_weights(self, X1: np.ndarray, X0: np.ndarray, V: Optional[np.ndarray] = None) -> np.ndarray: """ Optimize weights to minimize prediction error. min_w ||X1 - X0 w||_V^2 s.t. w >= 0, sum(w) = 1 Args: X1: Target predictors, shape (K,) X0: Control predictors, shape (J, K) V: Optional weighting matrix Returns: Optimal weights, shape (J,) """ J = X0.shape[0] if V is None: V = np.eye(len(X1)) # Objective function def objective(w): diff = X1 - X0.T @ w return diff.T @ V @ diff # Constraints: w >= 0, sum(w) = 1 constraints = {'type': 'eq', 'fun': lambda w: np.sum(w) - 1} bounds = [(0, 1) for _ in range(J)] # Initial guess: equal weights w0 = np.ones(J) / J # Optimize result = optimize.minimize( objective, x0=w0, method='SLSQP', bounds=bounds, constraints=constraints ) if not result.success: warnings.warn("Optimization did not fully converge") return result.x def placebo_test(self, treated_outcome: np.ndarray, control_outcomes: np.ndarray, treatment_time: int, n_permutations: int = 100) -> float: """ Conduct placebo test by applying SCM to control units. Tests whether the observed treatment effect is unusually large compared to effects from placebo treatments on controls. Args: treated_outcome: Treated unit outcome control_outcomes: Control units outcomes treatment_time: Treatment time n_permutations: Number of placebo tests Returns: p-value: Proportion of placebos with larger effect """ # Fit actual SCM actual_result = self.fit(treated_outcome, control_outcomes, treatment_time) actual_effect = np.abs(np.mean(actual_result.treatment_effect[treatment_time:])) # Run placebo tests placebo_effects = [] J = control_outcomes.shape[1] for j in range(min(J, n_permutations)): # Treat control j as if it were treated placebo_treated = control_outcomes[:, j] placebo_controls = np.delete(control_outcomes, j, axis=1) try: placebo_result = self.fit(placebo_treated, placebo_controls, treatment_time) placebo_effect = np.abs(np.mean(placebo_result.treatment_effect[treatment_time:])) placebo_effects.append(placebo_effect) except: continue # p-value: proportion of placebos with larger effect placebo_effects = np.array(placebo_effects) p_value = np.mean(placebo_effects >= actual_effect) return p_value class DifferenceinDifferences: """ Difference-in-Differences (DiD) Estimation Compares changes over time between treatment and control groups. Model: Y_it = β_0 + β_1 * Treated_i + β_2 * Post_t + β_3 * (Treated_i × Post_t) + ε_it where β_3 is the DiD estimate (Average Treatment effect on Treated). Key assumption: Parallel trends (treatment and control would have followed same trend absent treatment). Example: >>> # Effect of regime change in country A >>> did = DifferenceinDifferences() >>> result = did.estimate( ... treated_pre=country_a_gdp_before, ... treated_post=country_a_gdp_after, ... control_pre=neighbors_gdp_before, ... control_post=neighbors_gdp_after ... ) >>> print(f"ATT: {result.att:.3f} (p={result.p_value:.3f})") """ def estimate(self, treated_pre: np.ndarray, treated_post: np.ndarray, control_pre: np.ndarray, control_post: np.ndarray, cluster_robust: bool = False) -> DIDResult: """ Estimate DiD effect. Args: treated_pre: Treated group pre-treatment, shape (n_treated,) treated_post: Treated group post-treatment, shape (n_treated,) control_pre: Control group pre-treatment, shape (n_control,) control_post: Control group post-treatment, shape (n_control,) cluster_robust: Use cluster-robust standard errors Returns: DIDResult with ATT estimate """ # Convert to arrays treated_pre = np.asarray(treated_pre) treated_post = np.asarray(treated_post) control_pre = np.asarray(control_pre) control_post = np.asarray(control_post) # Sample sizes n_treated = len(treated_pre) n_control = len(control_pre) # Mean outcomes y_treated_pre = np.mean(treated_pre) y_treated_post = np.mean(treated_post) y_control_pre = np.mean(control_pre) y_control_post = np.mean(control_post) # DiD estimate diff_treated = y_treated_post - y_treated_pre diff_control = y_control_post - y_control_pre att = diff_treated - diff_control # Standard error (assuming homoskedasticity) var_treated_pre = np.var(treated_pre, ddof=1) var_treated_post = np.var(treated_post, ddof=1) var_control_pre = np.var(control_pre, ddof=1) var_control_post = np.var(control_post, ddof=1) se = np.sqrt( var_treated_post / n_treated + var_treated_pre / n_treated + var_control_post / n_control + var_control_pre / n_control ) # Test statistic t_stat = att / se p_value = 2 * (1 - stats.t.cdf(np.abs(t_stat), df=n_treated + n_control - 2)) return DIDResult( att=att, se=se, t_stat=t_stat, p_value=p_value, pre_treatment_diff=y_treated_pre - y_control_pre, post_treatment_diff=y_treated_post - y_control_post, n_treated=n_treated, n_control=n_control ) def panel_did(self, panel_data: np.ndarray, treatment_indicator: np.ndarray, time_indicator: np.ndarray, unit_ids: np.ndarray) -> DIDResult: """ Estimate DiD with panel data and fixed effects. Model: Y_it = α_i + γ_t + δ * (Treatment_i × Post_t) + ε_it Args: panel_data: Outcome variable, shape (N*T,) treatment_indicator: 1 if unit is treated, 0 otherwise, shape (N*T,) time_indicator: 1 if post-treatment, 0 if pre, shape (N*T,) unit_ids: Unit identifiers, shape (N*T,) Returns: DIDResult """ # Create interaction term did_term = treatment_indicator * time_indicator # Demean for fixed effects (within transformation) n_obs = len(panel_data) unique_units = np.unique(unit_ids) unique_times = np.unique(time_indicator) # Demean by unit (removes α_i) y_demeaned = np.zeros(n_obs) did_demeaned = np.zeros(n_obs) for unit in unique_units: mask = unit_ids == unit y_demeaned[mask] = panel_data[mask] - np.mean(panel_data[mask]) did_demeaned[mask] = did_term[mask] - np.mean(did_term[mask]) # Regression: y_demeaned ~ did_demeaned (absorbs time FE implicitly) # Simple OLS att = np.sum(did_demeaned * y_demeaned) / np.sum(did_demeaned ** 2) # Standard error residuals = y_demeaned - att * did_demeaned rss = np.sum(residuals ** 2) se = np.sqrt(rss / (n_obs - 2) / np.sum(did_demeaned ** 2)) t_stat = att / se p_value = 2 * (1 - stats.t.cdf(np.abs(t_stat), df=n_obs - 2)) n_treated = np.sum(treatment_indicator > 0) n_control = n_obs - n_treated return DIDResult( att=att, se=se, t_stat=t_stat, p_value=p_value, pre_treatment_diff=0.0, # Not directly computed post_treatment_diff=0.0, n_treated=n_treated, n_control=n_control ) class RegressionDiscontinuity: """ Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) Estimates treatment effects when treatment assignment is determined by whether a running variable crosses a threshold. Sharp RDD: Treatment deterministically assigned at cutoff Fuzzy RDD: Probability of treatment jumps at cutoff Example: Effect of election victory on policy outcomes - Running variable: Vote margin - Cutoff: 50% - Treatment: Winning election Example: >>> # Effect of election victory on military spending >>> rdd = RegressionDiscontinuity(cutoff=0.5) # 50% vote share >>> result = rdd.estimate_sharp( ... running_var=vote_share, # Vote percentage ... outcome=military_spending, ... bandwidth=0.1 # 10% bandwidth ... ) """ def __init__(self, cutoff: float = 0.0): """ Initialize RDD. Args: cutoff: Threshold value for treatment assignment """ self.cutoff = cutoff def estimate_sharp(self, running_var: np.ndarray, outcome: np.ndarray, bandwidth: Optional[float] = None, kernel: str = 'triangular', polynomial_order: int = 1) -> RDDResult: """ Estimate sharp RDD effect. Args: running_var: Running variable (e.g., vote share) outcome: Outcome variable bandwidth: Bandwidth around cutoff (if None, use data-driven selection) kernel: Weighting kernel ('triangular', 'uniform', 'epanechnikov') polynomial_order: Order of local polynomial Returns: RDDResult with treatment effect estimate """ running_var = np.asarray(running_var) outcome = np.asarray(outcome) # Center running variable at cutoff X = running_var - self.cutoff # Select bandwidth if not provided if bandwidth is None: bandwidth = self._select_bandwidth(X, outcome) # Restrict to bandwidth in_bandwidth = np.abs(X) <= bandwidth X_bw = X[in_bandwidth] Y_bw = outcome[in_bandwidth] # Treatment indicator (above cutoff) D = (X_bw >= 0).astype(float) # Create weights weights = self._kernel_weights(X_bw, bandwidth, kernel) # Fit local polynomial separately on each side # Model: Y = α + β*D + γ*X + δ*(D*X) + higher order terms # Design matrix Z = np.column_stack([ np.ones(len(X_bw)), # Intercept D, # Treatment X_bw, # Running variable D * X_bw # Interaction ]) # Weighted least squares W = np.diag(weights) try: beta = np.linalg.solve(Z.T @ W @ Z, Z.T @ W @ Y_bw) except np.linalg.LinAlgError: beta = np.linalg.lstsq(Z.T @ W @ Z, Z.T @ W @ Y_bw, rcond=None)[0] # Treatment effect is coefficient on D treatment_effect = beta[1] # Standard error (heteroskedasticity-robust) residuals = Y_bw - Z @ beta meat = Z.T @ W @ np.diag(residuals ** 2) @ W @ Z bread_inv = np.linalg.inv(Z.T @ W @ Z) vcov = bread_inv @ meat @ bread_inv se = np.sqrt(vcov[1, 1]) # Test statistic t_stat = treatment_effect / se n_left = np.sum(X_bw < 0) n_right = np.sum(X_bw >= 0) df = len(X_bw) - Z.shape[1] p_value = 2 * (1 - stats.t.cdf(np.abs(t_stat), df=df)) return RDDResult( treatment_effect=treatment_effect, se=se, t_stat=t_stat, p_value=p_value, bandwidth=bandwidth, n_left=n_left, n_right=n_right ) def _select_bandwidth(self, X: np.ndarray, Y: np.ndarray) -> float: """ Select bandwidth using Imbens-Kalyanaraman method (simplified). Args: X: Centered running variable Y: Outcome Returns: Optimal bandwidth """ # Simplified: use rule of thumb # h = C * σ * n^{-1/5} sigma = np.std(Y) n = len(Y) bandwidth = 1.06 * sigma * (n ** (-1 / 5)) # Ensure reasonable range bandwidth = np.clip(bandwidth, 0.1 * np.std(X), 2.0 * np.std(X)) return bandwidth def _kernel_weights(self, X: np.ndarray, bandwidth: float, kernel: str) -> np.ndarray: """Compute kernel weights.""" u = X / bandwidth if kernel == 'triangular': weights = np.maximum(1 - np.abs(u), 0) elif kernel == 'uniform': weights = (np.abs(u) <= 1).astype(float) elif kernel == 'epanechnikov': weights = np.maximum(0.75 * (1 - u ** 2), 0) else: weights = np.ones(len(X)) return weights class InstrumentalVariables: """ Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation Addresses endogeneity (omitted variable bias, reverse causality) using exogenous variation from an instrument. Model: Y = β_0 + β_1 * X + ε (Structural equation) X = γ_0 + γ_1 * Z + η (First stage) where: - X: Endogenous variable - Z: Instrument (exogenous, correlated with X, affects Y only through X) - β_1: Causal effect of X on Y Estimation: Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) Example: >>> # Effect of trade on conflict (trade is endogenous) >>> # Instrument: Geographic distance to major ports >>> iv = InstrumentalVariables() >>> result = iv.estimate_2sls( ... outcome=conflict_intensity, ... endogenous=trade_volume, ... instrument=distance_to_port, ... exogenous_controls=other_covariates ... ) >>> print(f"IV estimate: {result.beta_iv[0]:.3f}") >>> print(f"First stage F: {result.first_stage_f:.1f}") """ def estimate_2sls(self, outcome: np.ndarray, endogenous: np.ndarray, instrument: np.ndarray, exogenous_controls: Optional[np.ndarray] = None) -> IVResult: """ Two-Stage Least Squares estimation. Args: outcome: Dependent variable Y, shape (n,) endogenous: Endogenous variable X, shape (n,) or (n, k) instrument: Instrument Z, shape (n,) or (n, m) exogenous_controls: Additional exogenous controls, shape (n, p) Returns: IVResult with IV estimates """ outcome = np.asarray(outcome).reshape(-1, 1) endogenous = np.atleast_2d(endogenous) if endogenous.ndim == 1: endogenous = endogenous.reshape(-1, 1) instrument = np.atleast_2d(instrument) if instrument.ndim == 1: instrument = instrument.reshape(-1, 1) n = len(outcome) # Construct design matrices if exogenous_controls is not None: exogenous_controls = np.atleast_2d(exogenous_controls) W = np.column_stack([np.ones((n, 1)), exogenous_controls]) else: W = np.ones((n, 1)) # Full instrument matrix: [W, Z] Z_full = np.column_stack([W, instrument]) # STAGE 1: Regress endogenous on instruments # X = Z_full @ γ + residuals first_stage_coef = np.linalg.lstsq(Z_full, endogenous, rcond=None)[0] X_hat = Z_full @ first_stage_coef # Fitted values # First stage F-statistic residuals_first = endogenous - X_hat rss_first = np.sum(residuals_first ** 2, axis=0) tss_first = np.sum((endogenous - np.mean(endogenous, axis=0)) ** 2, axis=0) r_squared_first = 1 - rss_first / tss_first k_instruments = instrument.shape[1] k_exogenous = W.shape[1] first_stage_f = (r_squared_first / k_instruments) / ((1 - r_squared_first) / (n - k_exogenous - k_instruments)) first_stage_f = float(np.mean(first_stage_f)) # Average if multiple endogenous # STAGE 2: Regress Y on X_hat and W X_full = np.column_stack([W, X_hat]) beta_iv = np.linalg.lstsq(X_full, outcome, rcond=None)[0] # Standard errors (2SLS requires special formula) Y_hat = X_full @ beta_iv residuals_second = outcome - Y_hat sigma_sq = np.sum(residuals_second ** 2) / (n - X_full.shape[1]) # Variance: σ^2 (X_hat' X_hat)^{-1} vcov = sigma_sq * np.linalg.inv(X_full.T @ X_full) se_iv = np.sqrt(np.diag(vcov)).reshape(-1, 1) # OLS for comparison (biased but often smaller SE) X_full_ols = np.column_stack([W, endogenous]) beta_ols = np.linalg.lstsq(X_full_ols, outcome, rcond=None)[0] # Weak instrument warning weak_instrument = first_stage_f < 10 return IVResult( beta_iv=beta_iv[k_exogenous:, 0], # Exclude intercept/controls beta_ols=beta_ols[k_exogenous:, 0], se_iv=se_iv[k_exogenous:, 0], first_stage_f=first_stage_f, weak_instrument=weak_instrument ) def estimate_treatment_effect_bounds(outcome_treated: np.ndarray, outcome_control: np.ndarray, selection_probability: float = 0.5) -> Tuple[float, float]: """ Estimate bounds on treatment effect under selection on unobservables. When treatment assignment is not random, the true effect lies within bounds. This implements Manski bounds (worst-case bounds). Args: outcome_treated: Outcomes for treated group outcome_control: Outcomes for control group selection_probability: P(Treatment | unobservables) Returns: (lower_bound, upper_bound) on average treatment effect """ # Observed means y_treated = np.mean(outcome_treated) y_control = np.mean(outcome_control) # Range of outcomes y_min = min(np.min(outcome_treated), np.min(outcome_control)) y_max = max(np.max(outcome_treated), np.max(outcome_control)) # Worst-case bounds # Lower bound: assume best outcomes for control in unobserved potential outcomes lower_bound = y_treated - y_max # Upper bound: assume worst outcomes for control in unobserved potential outcomes upper_bound = y_treated - y_min return (lower_bound, upper_bound)