ddtiming

ddtiming is a Stata command that implements a decomposition of a difference-in-differences (DD) estimator with variation in treatment timing, based on Goodman-Bacon (2018). The two-way fixed effects DD model is a weighted average of all possible two-group/two period DD estimators. The command generates a scatterplot of 2x2 DD estimates and their associated weights.

To install the command, either type


      net describe ddtiming, from(https://tgoldring.com/code/)
      net install ddtiming

or alternatively type


      net install ddtiming, from(https://tgoldring.com/code/)

Let's see ddtiming in action using the same example as in Goodman-Bacon (2018). Download and load a dataset with the timing of no-fault divorce laws and female suicide rates (Stevenson & Wolfers, 2018) by typing


      net get ddtiming
      use nofault_divorce.dta

For comparison, estimate a two-way fixed effects DD model of female suicide on no-fault divorce reforms:


      areg asmrs treat i.year, a(state) robust

Apply the DD decomposition theorem in Goodman-Bacon (2018) to the two-way fixed effects DD model:


      ddtiming asmrs treat, i(state) t(year)

You should see the following output and scatterplot:

The scatterplot replicates Figure 6 in Goodman-Bacon (2018). Additionally, we can add options to the command to modify the look of the scatterplot:


      ddtiming asmrs treat, i(state) t(year) ddline(lwidth(thick)) ///
        ylabel(-30(10)30) legend(order(3 4 1 2)) savegraph(nfd.jpg) ///
        savedata(nfd) replace

This command demonstrates the use of ddtiming's options (ddline, savegraph, savedata) and twoway options (ylabel, legend). For descriptions of all options and additional help, type


      help ddtiming

References

Goodman-Bacon, Andrew. 2018. "Difference-in-differences with variation in treatment timing". Working paper.

Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. 2006. "Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law: Divorce Laws and Family Distress". The Quarterly Journal of Economics 121(1): 267-288.