From Casual to Causal Inference in Accounting Research: The Need for Theoretical Foundations

• DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2694105
• Publication Date: 2015-11-25T16:02:38Z
• Authors: Jeremy Bertomeu; Anne Beyer; Daniel J. Taylor
• Keywords: Casual

On December 5th and 6th 2014, the Stanford Graduate School of Business hosted Causality in Social Sciences Conference. The conference brought together several distinguished speakers from philosophy, economics, finance, accounting marketing with bold mission debating scientific methods that support causal inferences. We highlight key themes as relevant for researchers. First, we emphasize role formal economic theory informing empirical research seeks to draw inferences, offer a skeptical perspective on attempts inferences absence well-defined constructs assumptions. Next, some conceptual limitations quasi-natural experimental were discussed at conference, discuss structural estimation. Finally, illustrate many points by estimating novel, theoretically grounded measure disclosure costs.