The RD study of elite high schools shows no achievement advantage for kids who go to these more elite schools. In spite of the fact that their peers are much better, so we're also relating that work to the age old question in social science of peer effects. The RD is particularly interesting because it's relatively new in economics.
Joshua Angrist of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the craft of econometrics--how to use economic thinking and statistical methods to make sense of data and uncover causation. Angrist argues that improvements in research design along with various econometric techniques have improved the credibility of measurement in a complex world. Roberts pushes back and the conversation concludes with a discussion of how to assess the reliability of findings in controversial public policy areas.