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Model averaging in semiparametric estimation of treatment effects

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  • Kitagawa, Toru
  • Muris, Chris

Abstract

Choosing the covariates and functional form of the propensity score is an important choice for estimating treatment effects. This paper proposes a data-driven way of averaging the estimators over candidate specifications to resolve the specification uncertainty in the propensity score weighting estimation of the ATT. The proposed procedures minimize the estimated MSE of the ATT estimator in a local asymptotic framework. We formulate model averaging as a statistical decision problem in a limit experiment, and derive an averaging scheme that is Bayes optimal with respect to a given prior. The averaging estimator outperforms selection estimators and the estimators in any of the candidate models in terms of Bayes asymptotic MSE. Our Monte Carlo studies illustrate the size of the MSE gains. We apply the averaging procedure to evaluate the effect of a labor market program.

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  • Kitagawa, Toru & Muris, Chris, 2016. "Model averaging in semiparametric estimation of treatment effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 193(1), pages 271-289.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:econom:v:193:y:2016:i:1:p:271-289
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconom.2016.03.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Jeffrey S. Racine & Qi Li & Li Zheng, 2018. "Optimal Model Averaging of Mixed-Data Kernel-Weighted Spline Regressions," Department of Economics Working Papers 2018-10, McMaster University.
    2. Jiang Du & Zhongzhan Zhang & Tianfa Xie, 2017. "Focused information criterion and model averaging in censored quantile regression," Metrika: International Journal for Theoretical and Applied Statistics, Springer, vol. 80(5), pages 547-570, July.
    3. Raffaella Giacomini & Toru Kitagawa & Alessio Volpicella, 2017. "Uncertain identification," CeMMAP working papers CWP18/17, Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    4. Shou-Yung Yin & Chu-An Liu & Chang-Ching Lin, 2021. "Focused Information Criterion and Model Averaging for Large Panels With a Multifactor Error Structure," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1), pages 54-68, January.
    5. Riccardo Lucchetti & Luca Pedini & Claudia Pigini, 2021. "Bayesian Model Averaging For Propensity Score Matching In Tax Rebate," Working Papers 457, Universita' Politecnica delle Marche (I), Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali.
    6. Raffaella Giacomini & Toru Kitagawa & Alessio Volpicella, 2017. "Uncertain identification," CeMMAP working papers 18/17, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    7. Jiaming Mao & Jingzhi Xu, 2020. "Ensemble Learning with Statistical and Structural Models," Papers 2006.05308, arXiv.org.
    8. Ruoyao Shi, 2021. "An Averaging Estimator for Two Step M Estimation in Semiparametric Models," Working Papers 202105, University of California at Riverside, Department of Economics.
    9. Fang, Fang & Li, Jialiang & Xia, Xiaochao, 2022. "Semiparametric model averaging prediction for dichotomous response," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 229(2), pages 219-245.
    10. Raffaella Giacomini & Toru Kitagawa & Alessio Volpicella, 2022. "Uncertain identification," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(1), pages 95-123, January.
    11. Fang, Fang & Yu, Zhou, 2020. "Model averaging assisted sufficient dimension reduction," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    12. Lucchetti, Riccardo & Pedini, Luca & Pigini, Claudia, 2022. "No such thing as the perfect match: Bayesian Model Averaging for treatment evaluation," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    13. Zulj, Valentin & Jin, Shaobo, 2024. "Can model averaging improve propensity score based estimation of average treatment effects?," Working Paper Series 2024:1, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Treatment effects; Propensity score; Model averaging; Limit experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection

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