Journal of Public Economics · 2026 · Matthew Comey、Amanda Eng、Pauline Leung、Zhuan Pei
Abstract
In an instrumental variable framework, we define supercompliers as the subpopulation whose treatment take-up positively responds to eligibility and whose outcome positively responds to take-up. Supercompliers are the only subpopulation to benefit from treatment eligibility and, hence, are important for policy evaluation. We propose conditions for characterizing supercompliers, and show how estimation and inference can be conducted with instrumental variable regression. In two job training experiments, we demonstrate our machinery’s utility, particularly in incorporating social welfare weights into marginal value of public funds analyses.