Our 2017 article in this Journal stresses the pitfalls of using choice-based samples in economic history. A prominent example is the literature addressing the so-called antebellum puzzle. Heights researchers claim that Americans grew shorter in the first half of the nineteenth century, a period of robust economic growth. We argue that this result relies on choice-based samples. Without knowing the process that led to inclusion in the sample, researchers cannot properly estimate conditional mean heights. We proposed a diagnostic that can detect, but not correct for, selection bias. Komlos and A’Hearn’s interpretation of our analysis confuses diagnosis with cure. We dispute their view that selection bias has been appreciated in the heights literature.

中文翻译：

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在历史高度诊断样本选择偏差：对 Komlos 和 A'Hearn 的回复

我们在本刊 2017 年发表的文章强调了在经济史中使用基于选择的样本的缺陷。一个突出的例子是解决所谓的战前难题的文献。高地研究人员声称，美国人在 19 世纪上半叶变得更矮，这是一个经济强劲增长的时期。我们认为这个结果依赖于基于选择的样本。在不知道导致包含在样本中的过程的情况下，研究人员无法正确估计条件平均高度。我们提出了一种可以检测但不能纠正选择偏差的诊断方法。Komlos 和 A'Hearn 对我们分析的解释混淆了诊断与治愈。我们对他们的观点提出异议，即选择偏见在高度文献中得到了认可。