Skills Data Science Replication Package: Proofs and Code for AEJ

Replication Package: Proofs and Code for AEJ

v20260724
aejmic-replication-package
A comprehensive guide for submitting high-quality replication packages for academic journals like the American Economic Journal (AEJ: Micro). This package covers two essential components: self-contained, verifiable proofs for theoretical claims (the Proof Appendix), and a fully reproducible code and data deposit (the Code/Data Repository). It ensures that all numerical results, simulations, and empirical findings can be regenerated by the journal's editor, maintaining the highest standards of scientific transparency.
Get Skill
452 downloads
Overview

Replication Package: Proofs + Code (aejmic-replication-package)

For AEJ: Micro the "replication package" has two faces: the proof appendix that makes every theory claim verifiable, and, for any paper with data, code, experiments, or numerical results, an AEA Data and Code Repository deposit. Pure-theory papers still deposit any numerical/simulation code used to generate examples or figures.

When to trigger

  • Proofs are scattered, abbreviated, or rely on "it can be shown"
  • The paper has numerical examples, simulations, structural estimation, or an experiment with no deposit prepared
  • You are preparing for the AEA Data Editor check (administered before publication)
  • A referee or editor flags reproducibility

The proof appendix (every AEJ: Micro paper)

  • Self-contained proofs of all stated results. Key proofs belong in the paper (main text or appendix); do not exile a load-bearing proof to supplementary material.
  • Lemma scaffolding: state and prove auxiliary lemmas before the main theorem; reference them precisely.
  • Verify, do not assert: no "it can be shown that" for a claim the result depends on; complete the argument or cite a precise source.
  • Match the statement: the proof establishes exactly what the proposition claims (no gap between the body statement and what is proved).

Code / data deposit (papers with data, code, experiments, or numerical results)

The AEA operates a Data and Code Availability Policy administered by the AEA Data Editor (currently Lars Vilhuber — 检索于 2026-06,以官网为准), with materials deposited to the AEA Data and Code Repository on openICPSR. Build it as you go.

  • One master script (run_all) regenerating every table, figure, and numerical example from inputs.
  • Pin versions: requirements.txt / conda (Python), renv.lock (R), Project.toml / Manifest.toml (Julia), recorded Stata ssc/net versions.
  • Set and report seeds for any simulation, bootstrap, or randomization.
  • README mapping each exhibit to the script that produces it; document any restricted-data or partial-reproduction scope.
  • Pure-theory papers: deposit the code behind numerical examples / figures even when there is no dataset.
  • Experiments: include instructions, z-Tree/oTree code, raw and analysis data, and pre-registration links.

Checklist

  • All stated results have self-contained proofs; none rely on "it can be shown"
  • Auxiliary lemmas stated and proved before they are used
  • Each proof matches exactly what its proposition claims
  • (If any data/code/numerics) one master script regenerates all exhibits
  • Versions pinned; seeds set and reported
  • README maps every exhibit to its script; restricted/partial scope documented
  • Pure-theory numerical-example code deposited even with no dataset
  • Experiment materials (instructions, code, data, pre-registration) included

Anti-patterns

  • A "Proof." that asserts rather than argues the load-bearing step
  • A load-bearing proof hidden in an un-checked supplementary file
  • Numerical figures with no deposited code ("available on request")
  • Unpinned dependencies / unset seeds — results not reproducible by the Data Editor
  • Deferring the whole package to acceptance, then scrambling under the Data Editor deadline

Worked vignette (illustrative)

A persuasion paper has a clean Proposition 2 but its proof says "concavifying the value function yields the cutoff." For the appendix: state the auxiliary lemma (the value function's concave closure equals the indirect utility), prove it, then derive the cutoff explicitly — no hand-wave. The two numerical figures are generated by make_figures.py; deposit it with a fixed seed and a README line mapping Figure 3 → make_figures.py, even though there is no dataset.

Output format

【Proof appendix】all results proved, self-contained, no "it can be shown"? [Y/N]
【Lemma scaffolding】auxiliary results proved before use? [Y/N]
【Code/data deposit needed?】[yes — data/structural/experimental/numerical | theory-only numerics]
【Master script + pinned versions + seeds】[Y/N]
【README exhibit→script map】[Y/N]
【Next step】aejmic-referee-strategy then aejmic-submission

Supplementary resources

Info
Category Data Science
Name aejmic-replication-package
Version v20260724
Size 4.82KB
Updated At 2026-07-28
Language