What is R? Why use R for causal inference?

R is a powerful and versatile programming language and environment designed for statistical computing and graphics. It is widely used among statisticians, data analysts, and researchers for data manipulation, calculation, and graphical display.

Now the question is, why use R for causal inference? Well, firstly, we can use any programming language that is equipped with the right tools for statistical analysis, especially causal analysis. However, R’s primary strength lies in its vast range of statistical functions. It is equipped to handle various causal inference methods, from basic t-tests to more complex techniques such as propensity score matching and instrumental variable analysis. R has numerous packages specifically designed for causal analysis, such as mediation, MatchIt, CausalImpact, and many others. These packages simplify the implementation of complex causal inference techniques. Furthermore, R excels in handling and manipulating...