The purpose of an estimator is what it does: Misspecification, estimands, and over-identification
估计器由其实际行为定义:模型误设、目标量与过度识别
In over-identified models, misspecification -- the norm rather than exception -- fundamentally changes what estimators estimate. Different estimators imply different estimands rather than different efficiency for the same target. A review of recent applications of generalized method of moments in the American Economic Review suggests widespread acceptance of this fact: There is little formal specification testing and widespread use of estimators that would be inefficient…