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Empirical identifiability in finite mixture models

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  • Daeyoung Kim
  • Bruce Lindsay

Abstract

Although the parameters in a finite mixture model are unidentifiable, there is a form of local identifiability guaranteeing the existence of the identifiable parameter regions. To verify its existence, practitioners use the Fisher information on the estimated parameters. However, there exist model/data situations where local identifiability based on Fisher information does not correspond to that based on the likelihood. In this paper, we propose a method to empirically measure degree of local identifiability on the estimated parameters, empirical identifiability, based on one’s ability to construct an identifiable likelihood set. From a detailed topological study of the likelihood region, we show that for any given data set and mixture model, there typically exists limited range of confidence levels where the likelihood region has a natural partition into identifiable subsets. At confidence levels that are too high, there is no natural way to use the likelihood to resolve the identifiability problem. Copyright The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tokyo 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Daeyoung Kim & Bruce Lindsay, 2015. "Empirical identifiability in finite mixture models," Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Springer;The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, vol. 67(4), pages 745-772, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:aistmt:v:67:y:2015:i:4:p:745-772
    DOI: 10.1007/s10463-014-0474-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guan-Hua Huang & Karen Bandeen-Roche, 2004. "Building an identifiable latent class model with covariate effects on underlying and measured variables," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 69(1), pages 5-32, March.
    2. Hanfeng Chen & Jiahua Chen & John D. Kalbfleisch, 2001. "A modified likelihood ratio test for homogeneity in finite mixture models," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 63(1), pages 19-29.
    3. Dankmar Böhning & Ekkehart Dietz & Rainer Schaub & Peter Schlattmann & Bruce Lindsay, 1994. "The distribution of the likelihood ratio for mixtures of densities from the one-parameter exponential family," Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Springer;The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, vol. 46(2), pages 373-388, June.
    4. Rothenberg, Thomas J, 1971. "Identification in Parametric Models," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 39(3), pages 577-591, May.
    5. Yao, Weixin & Lindsay, Bruce G., 2009. "Bayesian Mixture Labeling by Highest Posterior Density," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 104(486), pages 758-767.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Omerovic, Sanela & Friedl, Herwig & Grün, Bettina, 2022. "Modelling Multiple Regimes in Economic Growth by Mixtures of Generalised Nonlinear Models," Econometrics and Statistics, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 124-135.

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