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条件影响函数AI 解读

There are many nonparametric objects of interest that are functionals of a conditional distribution, such as average treatment effects conditional on a low-dimensional set of covariates. We define a conditional influence function (CIF) as the Gateaux derivative of a conditional parameter with respect to perturbations of the conditional law of a single observation given the conditioning variable. CIFs generalize classical influence functions and can be used to (i) construct…

合成控制平均因果效应推断的去偏与 t 检验AI 解读

We propose a practical and robust method for making inference on average treatment effects estimated by synthetic controls. We develop a K-fold cross-fitting procedure for bias correction. To avoid the difficult estimation of the long-run variance, inference is based on a self-normalized t-statistic, which has an asymptotically pivotal t-distribution. Our t-test is easy to implement, provably robust against misspecification, and valid with stationary and nonstationary data.…

Riesz 表示元的对抗估计AI 解读

Many causal parameters are linear functionals of an underlying regression. The Riesz representer is a key component in the asymptotic variance of a semiparametrically estimated linear functional. We propose an adversarial framework to estimate the Riesz representer using general function spaces. We prove a nonasymptotic mean square rate in terms of an abstract quantity called the critical radius, then specialize it for neural networks, random forests, and reproducing kernel…

利用因子斜率的低秩估计推断异质效应AI 解读

Abstract We study a panel data model with heterogeneous effects, allowing slopes to vary across individuals and time. To reduce dimensionality, we assume these slopes follow a factor structure, so slope matrices can be estimated via low-rank regularized regression. We propose a multi-step estimation procedure incorporating sample splitting and partialing-out to enable valid inference after penalized estimation. We establish the asymptotic normality of the resulting…

Abstract We develop a general theory of omitted variable bias for a wide range of common causal parameters, including average treatment effects, average causal derivatives, and policy effects from covariate shifts. We show how plausibility judgments on the maximum explanatory power of omitted variables are sufficient to bound the bias, facilitating sensitivity analysis in otherwise complex models. Finally, we provide statistical inference methods that can leverage modern…

高维空间面板网络的统一推断AI 解读

We propose employing a high-dimensional generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator, regularized for dimension reduction and subsequently debiased to correct for shrinkage bias (referred to as a debiased-regularized estimator), for inference on large-scale spatial panel networks. In particular, the network structure, which incorporates a flexible sparse deviation that can be regarded either as a latent component or as a misspecification of a predetermined adjacency matrix,…

样本选择下的分布回归与英国工资分解AI 解读

We develop a distribution regression model under endogenous sample selection. This model is a semiparametric generalization of the Heckman selection model, which accommodates much richer patterns of heterogeneity in the effect of covariates and selection process and allows for departures from Gaussian errors while maintaining the same level of tractability. The model applies to continuous, discrete, and mixed outcomes. We provide identification, estimation, and inference…

分位数图模型：预测、条件独立与系统性风险应用AI 解读

We propose two types of Quantile Graphical Models: (i) Conditional Independence Quantile Graphical Models (CIQGMs) characterize the conditional independence by evaluating the distributional dependence structure at each quantile index, as such, those can be used for validation of the graph structure in the causal graphical models; (ii) Prediction Quantile Graphical Models (PQGMs) characterize the statistical dependencies through the graphs of the best linear predictors under…

This Special Issue celebrates the seminal contributions of Philip G. Wright to causal inference in economics and puts them in a modern perspective. At its core is a reproduction of Online Appendix B in Wright’s 1928 book The Tariff on Animal and Vegetable Oils.1 This book deals with demand for and supply of oils and butter. In its Online Appendix B, Wright made several fundamental contributions to causal inference. He introduced a structural equation model of demand and…

摘要暂缺

随机实验中异质性处理效应的通用机器学习推断及印度免疫接种应用AI 解读

We propose strategies to estimate and make inference on key features of heterogeneous effects in randomized experiments. These key features include best linear predictors of the effects using machine learning proxies, average effects sorted by impact groups , and average characteristics of most and least impacted units . The approach is valid in high‐dimensional settings, where the effects are proxied (but not necessarily consistently estimated) by predictive and causal…

通过分布回归估计网络与面板的分位数效应AI 解读

This paper provides a method to construct simultaneous confidence bands for quantile functions and quantile effects in nonlinear network and panel models with unobserved two-way effects, strictly exogenous covariates, and possibly discrete outcome variables. The method is based upon projection of simultaneous confidence bands for distribution functions constructed from fixed effects distribution regression estimators. These fixed effects estimators are debiased to deal with…

低秩模型的统计推断AI 解读

This paper studies inference in linear models with a high-dimensional parameter matrix that can be well approximated by a “spiked low-rank matrix.” A spiked low-rank matrix has rank that grows slowly compared to its dimensions and nonzero singular values that diverge to infinity. We show that this framework covers a broad class of models of latent variables, which can accommodate matrix completion problems, factor models, varying coefficient models and heterogeneous…

带约束的条件矩限制模型AI 解读

Shape restrictions have played a central role in economics as both testable implications of theory and sufficient conditions for obtaining informative counterfactual predictions. In this paper, we provide a general procedure for inference under shape restrictions in identified and partially identified models defined by conditional moment restrictions. Our test statistics and proposed inference methods are based on the minimum of the generalized method of moments (GMM)…

弱依赖高维动态面板中的异质性处理效应推断AI 解读

This paper provides estimation and inference methods for conditional average treatment effects (CATE) characterized by a high‐dimensional parameter in both homogeneous cross‐sectional and unit‐heterogeneous dynamic panel data settings. In our leading example, we model CATE by interacting the base treatment variable with explanatory variables. The first step of our procedure is orthogonalization, where we partial out the controls and unit effects from the outcome and the base…

利用正则化 Riesz 表示元对全局与局部参数进行去偏机器学习AI 解读

Summary We provide adaptive inference methods, based on $\ell _1$ regularization, for regular (semiparametric) and nonregular (nonparametric) linear functionals of the conditional expectation function. Examples of regular functionals include average treatment effects, policy effects, and derivatives. Examples of nonregular functionals include average treatment effects, policy effects, and derivatives conditional on a covariate subvector fixed at a point. We construct a…

局部稳健的半参数估计AI 解读

Many economic and causal parameters depend on nonparametric or high dimensional first steps. We give a general construction of locally robust/orthogonal moment functions for GMM, where first steps have no effect, locally, on average moment functions. Using these orthogonal moments reduces model selection and regularization bias, as is important in many applications, especially for machine learning first steps. Also, associated standard errors are robust to misspecification…

因果与结构效应的自动去偏机器学习AI 解读

Many causal and structural effects depend on regressions. Examples include policy effects, average derivatives, regression decompositions, average treatment effects, causal mediation, and parameters of economic structural models. The regressions may be high‐dimensional, making machine learning useful. Plugging machine learners into identifying equations can lead to poor inference due to bias from regularization and/or model selection. This paper gives automatic debiasing for…

反事实与合成控制的精确稳健共形推断方法AI 解读

We introduce new inference procedures for counterfactual and synthetic control methods for policy evaluation. We recast the causal inference problem as a counterfactual prediction and a structural breaks testing problem. This allows us to exploit insights from conformal prediction and structural breaks testing to develop permutation inference procedures that accommodate modern high-dimensional estimators, are valid under weak and easy-to-verify conditions, and are provably…

条件平均处理效应及其他因果函数的去偏机器学习AI 解读

Summary This paper provides estimation and inference methods for the best linear predictor (approximation) of a structural function, such as conditional average structural and treatment effects, and structural derivatives, based on modern machine learning tools. We represent this structural function as a conditional expectation of an unbiased signal that depends on a nuisance parameter, which we estimate by modern machine learning techniques. We first adjust the signal to…

特征定价均衡与不可分离联立方程的识别AI 解读

This paper derives conditions under which preferences and technology are nonparametrically identified in hedonic equilibrium models. With products differentiated along a quality index and agents characterized by scalar unobserved heterogeneity, single-crossing conditions on preferences and technology provide identifying restrictions in previous work. We develop similar shape restrictions in the multiattribute case. These shape restrictions, based on optimal transport theory…

离散结果的分位数函数与分位数效应函数的一般推断AI 解读

Quantile and quantile effect functions are important tools for descriptive and causal analyses due to their natural and intuitive interpretation. Existing inference methods for these functions do not apply to discrete random variables. This paper offers a simple, practical construction of simultaneous confidence bands for quantile and quantile effect functions of possibly discrete random variables. It is based on a natural transformation of simultaneous confidence bands for…

非可分三角模型中结构函数的半参数估计AI 解读

Triangular systems with nonadditively separable unobserved heterogeneity provide a theoretically appealing framework for the modeling of complex structural relationships. However, they are not commonly used in practice due to the need for exogenous variables with large support for identification, the curse of dimensionality in estimation, and the lack of inferential tools. This paper introduces two classes of semiparametric nonseparable triangular models that address these…

基于级数或大量回归变量的条件分位数过程AI 解读

Quantile regression (QR) is a principal regression method for analyzing the impact of covariates on outcomes. The impact is described by the conditional quantile function and its functionals. In this paper we develop the nonparametric QR-series framework, covering many regressors as a special case, for performing inference on the entire conditional quantile function and its linear functionals. In this framework, we approximate the entire conditional quantile function by a…