An overview of meta-analytic methods for economic research

Abstract: Meta-analysis employs statistical techniques to synthesize the results of individual studies, providing an estimate of the overall effect size for a specific outcome of interest. The direction and magnitude of this estimate, along with its confidence interval, offer valuable insights into the underlying phenomenon or relationship. As an extension of standard meta-analysis, meta-regression analysis incorporates multiple moderators -- capturing key study characteristics -- into the model to explain heterogeneity in true effect sizes across studies. This study provides a comprehensive overview of meta-analytic procedures tailored to economic research, addressing key challenges such as between-study heterogeneity, publication bias, and effect size dependence. It equips researchers with essential tools and insights to conduct rigorous and informative meta-analyses in economics and related fields.