Covariate Measurement Error in Endogenous Stratified Samples

In this paper we propose a general framework to deal with the presence of covariate mea-surement error in endogenous stratifield samples. Using Chesher’s (2000) methodology, we develop approximately consistent estimators for the parameters of the structural model, in the sense that their inconsistency is of smaller order than that of the conventional estimators which ignore the existence of covariate measurement error. The approximate bias corrected estimators are obtained by applying the generalized method of moments (GMM) to a modifeld version of the moment indicators suggested by Imbens and Lancaster (1996) for endogenous stratified samples. Only the specification of the conditional distribution of the response vari-able given the latent covariates and the classical additive measurement error model assumption are required, the availability of information on both the marginal probability of the strata in the population and the variance of the measurement error not being essential. A score test to detect the presence of covariate measurement error arises as a by-product of this approach. Monte Carlo evidence is presented which suggests that, in endogenous stratified samples of moderate sizes, the modified GMM estimators perform well

Binary models with misclassification in the variable of interest

In this paper we propose a general framework to deal with datasets where a binary outcome is subject to misclassification and, for some sampling units, neither the error-prone variable of interest nor the covariates are recorded. A model to describe the observed data is for-malized and eficient likelihood-based generalized method of moments (GMM) estimators are suggested. These estimators merely require the formulation of the conditional distribution of the latent outcome given the covariates. The conditional probabilities which describe the error and the nonresponse mechanisms are estimated simultaneously with the parameters of inter-est. In a small Monte Carlo simulation study our GMM estimators revealed a very promising performance

Covariate Measurement Error:Bias Reduction under Response-based Sampling

In this paper we propose a general framework to deal with the presence of covariate measurement error (CME) in response-based (RB) samples. Using Chesher’s (1991) methodology, we obtain a small error variance approximation for the contaminated sampling distributions that characterise RB samples with CME. Then, following Chesher (2000), we develop generalised method of moments (GMM) estimators that reduce the bias of the most well known likelihood-based estimators for RB samples which ignore the existence of CME and derive a score test to detect the presence of this type of measurement error. Our approach only requires the specification of the conditional distribution of the response variable given the latent covariates and the classical additive measurement error model assumption, the availability of information on both the marginal probability of the strata in the population and the variance of the measurement error not being essential. Monte Carlo evidence is presented which suggests that, in RB samples of moderate sizes, the bias-reduced GMM estimators perform well.Response-based samples; Covariate measurement error; Generalized method ofmoments estimation; Score tests.

Alternative versions of the RESET test for binary response index models: a comparative study

Binary response index models may be affected by several forms of misspecification, which range from pure functional form problems (e.g. incorrect specification of the link function, neglected heterogeneity, heteroskedasticity) to various types of sampling issues (e.g. covariate measurement error, response misclassification, endogenous stratification, missing data). In this paper we examine the ability of several versions of the RESET test to detect such misspecifications in an extensive Monte Carlo simulation study. We find that: (i) the best variants of the RESET test are clearly those based on one or two fitted powers of the response index; and (ii) the loss of power resulting from using the RESET instead of a test directed against a specific type of misspecification is very small in many cases.Binary models; RESET; Misspecification.

Heteroskedasticity Testing Through Comparison of Wald-Type Statistics

A test for heteroskedasticity within the context of classical linear regression can be based on the difference between Wald statistics in heteroskedasticity-robust and nonrobust forms. The resulting statistic is asymptotically distributed under the null hypothesis of homoskedasticity as chi-squared with one degree of freedom. The power of this test is sensitive to the choice of parametric restriction on which the Wald statistics are based, so the supremum of a range of individual test statistics is proposed. Two versions of a supremum-based test are considered: the first version, easier to implement, does not have a known asymptotic null distribution, so the bootstrap is employed in order to assess its behaviour and enable meaningful conclusions from its use in applied work. The second version has a known asymptotic distribution and, in some cases, is asymptotically pivotal under the null. A small simulation study illustrates the implementation and finite-sample performance of both versions of the test.Heteroskedasticity testing; White test; Wald test; Supremum

Is neglected heterogeneity really an issue in binary and fractional regression models? A simulation exercise for logit, probit and loglog models

In this paper we examine theoretically and by simulation whether or not unobserved heterogeneity independent of the included regressors is really an issue in logit, probit and loglog models with both binary and fractional data. We found that unobserved heterogeneity: (i) produces an attenuation bias in the estimation of regression coefficients; (ii) is innocuous for logit estimation of average sample partial effects, while in the probit and loglog cases there may be important biases in the estimation of those quantities; (iii) has much more destructive effects over the estimation of population partial effects; (iv) only for logit models does not affect substantially the prediction of outcomes; and (v) is innocuous for the size and consistency of Wald tests for the significance of observed regressors but, in small samples, reduces their power substantially.Binary models; fractional models; neglected heterogeneity; partial effects; prediction; wald tests.

Alternative estimating and testing empirical strategies for fractional regression models

In many economic settings, the variable of interest is often a fraction or a proportion, being defined only on the unit interval. The bounded nature of such variables and, in some cases, the possibility of nontrivial probability mass accumulating at one or both boundaries raise some interesting estimation and inference issues. In this paper we: (i) provide a comprehensive survey of the main alternative models and estimation methods suitable to deal with fractional response variables; (ii) propose a full testing methodology to assess the validity of the assumptions required by each alternative estimator; and (iii) examine the finite sample properties of most of the estimators and tests discussed through an extensive Monte Carlo study. An application concerning corporate capital structure choices is also provided.Fractional regression models; Conditional mean tests; Non-nested hypotheses; Zero outcomes; Two-part models.

Bias-corrected Moment-based Estimators for Parametric Models under Endogenous Stratified Sampling

This paper provides an integrated approach for estimating parametric models from endogenous stratified samples. We discuss several alternative ways of removing the bias of the moment indicators usually employed under random sampling for estimating the parameters of the structural model and the proportion of the strata in the population. Those alternatives give rise to a bunch of moment-based estimators which are appropriate for both cases where the marginal strata probabilities are known and unknown. The derivation of our estimators is very simple and intuitive and incorporates as particular cases most of the likelihood-based estimators existing in the literature

Fractional regression models for second stage DEA efficiency analyses

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is commonly used to measure the relative efficiency of decision-making units. Often, in a second stage, a regression model is estimated to relate DEA efficiency scores to exogenous factors. In this paper, we argue that the traditional linear or tobit approaches to second-stage DEA analysis do not constitute a reasonable data-generating process for DEA scores. Under the assumption that DEA scores can be treated as descriptive measures of the relative performance of units in the sample, we show that using fractional regression models are the most natural way of modeling bounded, proportional response variables such as DEA scores. We also propose generalizations of these models and, given that DEA scores take frequently the value of unity, examine the use of two-part models in this framework. Several tests suitable for assessing the specification of each alternative model are also discussed.Second-stage DEA; Fractional data; Specification tests; One outcomes; Two-part models.