Randomization Inference in Two-Sided Market Experiments

Abstract

Randomized experiments are increasingly employed in two-sided markets, such as buyer--seller platforms, to evaluate the effects of marketplace interventions. These experiments must reflect the underlying two-sided market structure in their design and can therefore be challenging to analyze. In this paper, we develop a randomization inference framework for outcomes from two-sided experiments, with a focus on testing and inference for two-sided spillover effects. Our approach is finite-sample valid under sharp null hypotheses. Regarding weak null hypotheses, we find that the commonly used Neyman-style studentization does not universally ensure asymptotic validity, and we document how it depends on the specific formulation of the null. We then propose a two-way variance estimator for studentization that restores asymptotic validity. We further propose methods to improve testing power by exploiting the two-sided structure of the problem, which we validate empirically. We demonstrate our methods through a series of simulation studies and an applied example from a network experiment in micro-lending.