ICEF Research Seminar by Aleksey Tetenov (University of Geneva)

On Thursday, May 30 ICEF held the Research Seminar.

Speaker: Aleksey Tetenov (University of Geneva)

Theme: "An Economic Theory of Statistical Testing"

Abstract: This paper models the use of statistical hypothesis testing in regulatory approval. A privately informed agent proposes an innovation. Its approval is beneficial to the proponent, but potentially detrimental to the regulator. The proponent can conduct a costly clinical trial to persuade the regulator. I show that the regulator can screen out all ex-ante undesirable proponents by committing to use a simple statistical test. Its level is the ratio of the trial cost to the proponent’s benefit from approval. In application to new drug approval, this level is around 15% for an average Phase III clinical trial.

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ICEF seminars