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On Standard-Error-Decreasing Complementarity: Why Collinearity is Not the Whole Story

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  • Bernd Hayo

    (University of Marburg)

Abstract

There is a widespread belief among economists that adding additional variables to a regression model causes higher standard errors. This note shows that, in general, this belief is unfounded and that the impact of adding variables on coefficients’ standard errors is unclear. The concept of standard-error-decreasing complementarity is introduced, which works against the collinearity-induced increase in standard errors. How standard-error-decreasing complementarity works is illustrated with the help of a nontechnical heuristic, and, using an example based on artificial data, it is shown that the outcome of popular econometric approaches can be potentially misleading.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernd Hayo, 2017. "On Standard-Error-Decreasing Complementarity: Why Collinearity is Not the Whole Story," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201703, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    • Handle: RePEc:mar:magkse:201703
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    7. White, Halbert, 1980. "A Heteroskedasticity-Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimator and a Direct Test for Heteroskedasticity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 48(4), pages 817-838, May.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bernd Hayo & Florian Neumeier, 2022. "Households’ inflation perceptions and expectations: survey evidence from New Zealand," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 185-217, February.
    2. Bernd Hayo & Kentaro Iwatsubo, 2022. "Who Is Successful in Foreign Exchange Margin Trading? New Survey Evidence from Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Hayo, Bernd & Voigt, Stefan, 2023. "Judicial independence: Why does de facto diverge from de jure?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Gross, Jonas & Zahner, Johannes, 2021. "What is on the ECB’s mind? Monetary policy before and after the global financial crisis," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    5. Bernd Hayo, 2023. "Does the ECB’s Monetary Policy Affect Personal Finances and Economic Inequality? A Household Perspective from Germany," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202023, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    6. Bernd Hayo & Florian Neumeier, 2021. "Explaining central bank trust in an inflation-targeting country: the case of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 73(1), pages 27-48.
    7. Hayo, Bernd, 2023. "Does the ECB's monetary policy affect personal finances and economic inequality? A household perspective from Germany," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    8. Roberto Cabaleiro‐Casal & Enrique Buch‐Gómez, 2021. "Female politicians in municipal councils and fiscal performance," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 289-314, July.
    9. Israel García & Bernd Hayo, 2023. "Fiscal Reform in Spanish Municipalities: Gender Differences in Budgetary Adjustment," CESifo Working Paper Series 10297, CESifo.
    10. García, Israel & Hayo, Bernd, 2021. "Political budget cycles revisited: Testing the signalling process," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    11. Hayo, Bernd, 2021. "Does Quantitative Easing Affect People’s Personal Financial Situation and Economic Inequality? The View of the German Population," VfS Annual Conference 2021 (Virtual Conference): Climate Economics 242331, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Standard-error-decreasing complementarity; multivariate regression model; standard error; econometric methodology; multicollinearity; collinearity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General
    • B4 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology

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