Local Window Cutoff Equality Policy Tool

Description

distance = runningVariable-cutoff.

Cutoff and event-study calculations need explicit treatment timing, reference categories and boundary rules. A numerical selection flag or before-after contrast is not evidence that the identifying assumptions for causal inference hold.

distance = runningVariable-cutoff.

When to use this tool

Use Local Window Cutoff Equality Policy when checking a supplied cutoff, event-time or group-time contrast.

How to use the tool and how it works

Enter runningVariable, cutoff, bandwidth, includeCutoff. Use the units and conventions below.
Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
Read distance, inRightWindow. Inspect inRightWindow before interpreting the associated values.

Require nonnegative bandwidth. distance = runningVariable-cutoff. inRightWindow requires distance <= bandwidth and runningVariable >= cutoff when includeCutoff, otherwise strict >.^[1]

Input field	Meaning and units	Accepted input
runningVariable	Running Variable	Required. Finite number.
cutoff	Cutoff	Required. Finite number.
bandwidth	Bandwidth	Required. Finite number; minimum 0.
includeCutoff	Include Cutoff	Required. Boolean.

Output field	Interpretation	Returned shape
distance	Distance	Required. Finite number.
inRightWindow	In Right Window	Required. Boolean.

json

{
  "input": {
    "runningVariable": 10,
    "cutoff": 10,
    "bandwidth": 2,
    "includeCutoff": true
  },
  "output": {
    "distance": 0,
    "inRightWindow": true
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

The right-hand window's outer endpoint is inclusive. This is a selection predicate, not bandwidth estimation, treatment verification or regression-discontinuity inference.
Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Use the appropriate research design and full estimator to assess comparability, treatment assignment and causal assumptions.

References

Calculation and input contract: econometrics/local-window-cutoff-equality-policy — tool.io

Similar or alternative tools

Regression Discontinuity Cutoff Distance Term
distance = runningVariable-cutoff; treated uses >= when equalityTreated, otherwise >; insideBandwidth = abs(distance) <= bandwidth.
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