I4R x R2E-Dev: Reproducibility and Robustness in Development Economics
October 7, 2026 · Institute for Replication
A large-scale meta-replication of empirical research in development economics
R2E-Dev systematically examines the reproducibility and robustness of 66 empirical studies from Development Economics published in the American Economic Review, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, and Journal of Development Economics. Each study is assessed by an independent replication fellow following a common protocol.
Why does this matter?
Empirical results can depend on many reasonable analytical decisions. R2E-Dev asks how robust published findings are when these decisions are varied systematically, while deliberately restricting the analysis to conservative and defensible alternatives.
What we’re doing
For each study, replication fellows:
- Reproduce the original results computationally
- Audit the original code
- Conduct pre-specified, conservative robustness checks
- Document results in a standardized replication report
All reports undergo review by the R2E-Dev core team and another replication fellow.
What comes next
The project will produce:
- 66 individual replication reports, shared with original authors before publication
- A meta-paper synthesizing evidence on reproducibility and robustness across development economics
The individual reports will be released gradually, with the meta-paper planned for the end of 2026.