Experiments in Public Management Research

ABSTRACT: This article argues that experimental methods are underused in public management research. This is lamentable, since this research field faces especially severe endogeneity problems. We introduce five different experimental designs together with a discussion of their strengths and weaknesses in public management research: lab, survey, field, natural, and quasi-experiments. We also discuss whether experiments are low on external validity. This objection is often raised, but we think it is false.