LaTeX Tables

Purpose

This skill creates clean, publication-ready tables in LaTeX for regression results and summary statistics, using standard academic formatting.

When to Use

Converting model output into LaTeX tables
Standardizing table style across a paper
Adding notes, significance stars, and labels

Instructions

Follow these steps to complete the task:

Step 1: Understand the Context

Before generating any code, ask the user:

What type of table is needed (regression, summary stats, balance)?
What software produced the results (Stata, R, Python)?
Which formatting style is required (journal-specific, AEA, etc.)?

Step 2: Generate the Output

Based on the context, generate LaTeX code that:

Uses booktabs for clean horizontal rules
Includes labels and captions for referencing in the paper
Adds notes for standard errors and significance
Aligns numeric columns for readability

Step 3: Verify and Explain

After generating output:

Explain how to compile the table
Highlight any assumptions in the formatting
Suggest refinements for journal submission

Example Prompts

"Create a regression table with three models in LaTeX"
"Format summary statistics with mean and sd columns"
"Add significance stars and standard error notes"

Example Output

% ============================================
% Regression Table
% ============================================
\begin{table}[htbp]\centering
\caption{Effect of Treatment on Outcome}
\label{tab:main_results}
\begin{tabular}{lccc}
\toprule
 & (1) & (2) & (3) \\
\midrule
Treatment & 0.125*** & 0.118*** & 0.102** \\
 & (0.041) & (0.039) & (0.046) \\
Controls & No & Yes & Yes \\
Fixed Effects & No & Yes & Yes \\
\midrule
Observations & 2,145 & 2,145 & 2,145 \\
R-squared & 0.18 & 0.24 & 0.31 \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}
\begin{tablenotes}
\small
\item Notes: Standard errors in parentheses. * p<0.10, ** p<0.05, *** p<0.01.
\end{tablenotes}
\end{table}

Requirements

Software

LaTeX distribution (TeX Live or MikTeX)

Packages

booktabs
threeparttable (optional for notes)

Best Practices

Keep tables compact and readable
Use consistent notation for standard errors and stars
Provide clear captions and labels

Common Pitfalls

Overly wide tables that do not fit the page
Missing notes for standard errors
Inconsistent labeling across tables

References

Changelog

v1.0.0

Initial release

latex-tables