A meta-analysis (MA) aggregates estimated effects from many studies to calculate a single, overall effect. There is no one, generally accepted procedure for how to do this. Several estimators are commonly used, though little is known about their relative performance. A complication arises when...

This study uses Monte Carlo analysis to investigate the performances of five different meta-analysis (MA) estimators: the Fixed Effects (FE) estimator, the Weighted Least Squares (WLS) estimator, the Random Effects (RE) estimator, the Precision Effect Test (PET) estimator, and the Precision...

This study replicates Nijkamp & Poot (2004), henceforth N&P, and performs a variety of robustness checks. Using a sample of fiscal policy studies published between 1983-1998, N&P concluded that certain types of fiscal policies were more likely to confirm prior beliefs about their impact on...

A meta-analysis is a tool for aggregating estimates of a similar "effect" across many studies. Publication bias is the phenomenon where literature is sample selected in favor of studies having statistically significant results and/or having estimates that satisfy pre-conceived expectations. A...