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Posterior-based Wald-type statistics for hypothesis testing

Author

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  • Liu, Xiaobin
  • Li, Yong
  • Yu, Jun
  • Zeng, Tao

Abstract

A new Wald-type statistic is proposed for hypothesis testing based on Bayesian posterior distributions under the correct model specification. The new statistic can be explained as a posterior version of the Wald statistic and has several nice properties. First, it is well-defined under improper prior distributions. Second, it avoids Jeffreys–Lindley–Bartlett’s paradox. Third, under the null hypothesis and repeated sampling, it follows a χ2 distribution asymptotically, offering an asymptotically pivotal test. Fourth, it only requires inverting the posterior covariance for parameters of interest. Fifth and perhaps most importantly, when a random sample from the posterior distribution (such as MCMC output) is available, the proposed statistic can be easily obtained as a by-product of posterior simulation. In addition, the numerical standard error of the estimated proposed statistic can be computed based on random samples. A robust version of the test statistic is developed under model misspecification and inherits many nice properties of the new posterior statistic. The finite sample performance of the statistics is examined in Monte Carlo studies. The method is applied to two latent variable models used in microeconometrics and financial econometrics.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Xiaobin & Li, Yong & Yu, Jun & Zeng, Tao, 2022. "Posterior-based Wald-type statistics for hypothesis testing," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 230(1), pages 83-113.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:econom:v:230:y:2022:i:1:p:83-113
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconom.2021.11.003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Decision theory; Hypothesis testing; Latent variable models; Posterior simulation; Wald test;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General

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