每日简报

利用因子斜率的低秩估计推断异质效应AI 解读

We study a panel data model with general heterogeneous effects where slopes are allowed to vary across both individuals and over time. The key dimension reduction assumption we employ is that the heterogeneous slopes can be expressed as having a factor structure so that the high-dimensional slope matrix is low-rank and can thus be estimated using low-rank regularized regression. We provide a simple multi-step estimation procedure for the heterogeneous effects. The procedure…

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 inferences 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…

带平衡调整的线性情境老虎机AI 解读

Contextual bandit algorithms are sensitive to the estimation method of the outcome model as well as the exploration method used, particularly in the presence of rich heterogeneity or complex outcome models, which can lead to difficult estimation problems along the path of learning. We develop algorithms for contextual bandits with linear payoffs that integrate balancing methods from the causal inference literature in their estimation to make it less prone to problems of…

稳健决策者动态模型的识别与估计AI 解读

This paper studies identification and estimation of a class of dynamic models in which the decision maker (DM) is uncertain about the data-generating process. The DM surrounds a benchmark model that he or she fears is misspecified by a set of models. Decisions are evaluated under a worst-case model delivering the lowest utility among all models in this set. The DM's benchmark model and preference parameters are jointly underidentified. With the benchmark model held fixed,…

说服效应的识别AI 解读

This paper examines a commonly used measure of persuasion whose precise interpretation has been obscure in the literature. By using the potential outcome framework, we define the causal persuasion rate by a proper conditional probability of taking the action of interest with a persuasive message conditional on not taking the action without the message. We then formally study identification under empirically relevant data scenarios and show that the commonly adopted measure…

合成双重差分AI 解读

We present a new estimator for causal effects with panel data that builds on insights behind the widely used difference in differences and synthetic control methods. Relative to these methods we find, both theoretically and empirically, that this "synthetic difference in differences" estimator has desirable robustness properties, and that it performs well in settings where the conventional estimators are commonly used in practice. We study the asymptotic behavior of the…

情境老虎机中的估计问题AI 解读

Contextual bandit algorithms are sensitive to the estimation method of the outcome model as well as the exploration method used, particularly in the presence of rich heterogeneity or complex outcome models, which can lead to difficult estimation problems along the path of learning. We study a consideration for the exploration vs. exploitation framework that does not arise in multi-armed bandits but is crucial in contextual bandits; the way exploration and exploitation is…