IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/arx/papers/2603.07722.html

Identification and Counterfactual Analysis in Incomplete Models with Support and Moment Restrictions

Author

Listed:
  • Lixiong Li

Abstract

This paper develops a unified identification framework for counterfactual analysis in incomplete models characterized by support and moment restrictions. I demonstrate that identifying structural parameters and conducting counterfactual analyses are isomorphic tasks. By embedding counterfactual restrictions within an augmented structural model specification, this approach bypasses the conventional "estimate-then-simulate" workflow and the need to simulate outcomes from models with set predictions. To make this approach operational, I extend sharp identification results for the support-function approach beyond the integrable boundedness condition that is imposed in sharp random-set characterizations but may be violated in economically relevant counterfactual analyses. Under minimal regularity conditions, I prove that the support-function approach remains sharp for the $moment$ $closure$ of the identified set. Furthermore, I introduce an irreducibility condition requiring all support implications to be made explicit. I show that for irreducible models, the identified set and its moment closure are statistically indistinguishable in finite samples. Together, these results justify using support-function methods in counterfactual settings where traditional sharpness fails and clarify the distinct roles of support and moment restrictions in empirical practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Lixiong Li, 2026. "Identification and Counterfactual Analysis in Incomplete Models with Support and Moment Restrictions," Papers 2603.07722, arXiv.org.
  • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2603.07722
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://arxiv.org/pdf/2603.07722
    File Function: Latest version
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Federico A. Bugni & Ivan A. Canay & Xiaoxia Shi, 2017. "Inference for subvectors and other functions of partially identified parameters in moment inequality models," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 8(1), pages 1-38, March.
    2. Timothy Christensen & Benjamin Connault, 2023. "Counterfactual Sensitivity and Robustness," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 91(1), pages 263-298, January.
    3. Ivar Ekeland & Alfred Galichon & Marc Henry, 2010. "Optimal transportation and the falsifiability of incompletely specified economic models," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 42(2), pages 355-374, February.
    4. Molinari, Francesca, 2020. "Microeconometrics with partial identification," Handbook of Econometrics, in: Steven N. Durlauf & Lars Peter Hansen & James J. Heckman & Rosa L. Matzkin (ed.), Handbook of Econometrics, edition 1, volume 7, chapter 0, pages 355-486, Elsevier.
    5. James Levinsohn & Amil Petrin, 2003. "Estimating Production Functions Using Inputs to Control for Unobservables," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 70(2), pages 317-341.
    6. Alexandre Belloni & Federico Bugni & Victor Chernozhukov, 2018. "Subvector Inference in Partially Identified Models with Many Moment Inequalities," Papers 1806.11466, arXiv.org.
    7. Federico Ciliberto & Elie Tamer, 2009. "Market Structure and Multiple Equilibria in Airline Markets," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 77(6), pages 1791-1828, November.
    8. Hiroaki Kaido & Francesca Molinari & Jörg Stoye, 2019. "Confidence Intervals for Projections of Partially Identified Parameters," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 87(4), pages 1397-1432, July.
    9. Jovanovic, Boyan, 1989. "Observable Implications of Models with Multiple Equilibria," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 57(6), pages 1431-1437, November.
    10. Philip A. Haile & Elie Tamer, 2003. "Inference with an Incomplete Model of English Auctions," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 111(1), pages 1-51, February.
    11. Susanne M. Schennach, 2014. "Entropic Latent Variable Integration via Simulation," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 82(1), pages 345-385, January.
    12. Daniel A. Ackerberg & Kevin Caves & Garth Frazer, 2015. "Identification Properties of Recent Production Function Estimators," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 83, pages 2411-2451, November.
    13. Andrew Chesher & Adam M. Rosen & Konrad Smolinski, 2013. "An instrumental variable model of multiple discrete choice," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 4(2), pages 157-196, July.
    14. Brendan Kline & Elie Tamer, 2024. "Counterfactual Analysis in Empirical Games," Papers 2410.12731, arXiv.org.
    15. Arie Beresteanu & Ilya Molchanov & Francesca Molinari, 2011. "Sharp Identification Regions in Models With Convex Moment Predictions," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 79(6), pages 1785-1821, November.
    16. Olley, G Steven & Pakes, Ariel, 1996. "The Dynamics of Productivity in the Telecommunications Equipment Industry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 64(6), pages 1263-1297, November.
    17. Ivar Ekeland & Alfred Galichon & Marc Henry, 2010. "Optimal transportation and the falsifiability of incompletely specified economic models," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 42(2), pages 355-374, February.
    18. Marcoux, Mathieu & Russell, Thomas M. & Wan, Yuanyuan, 2024. "A simple specification test for models with many conditional moment inequalities," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 242(1).
    19. Elie Tamer, 2003. "Incomplete Simultaneous Discrete Response Model with Multiple Equilibria," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 70(1), pages 147-165.
    20. Berry, Steven T, 1992. "Estimation of a Model of Entry in the Airline Industry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 60(4), pages 889-917, July.
    21. Bresnahan, Timothy F. & Reiss, Peter C., 1991. "Empirical models of discrete games," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 48(1-2), pages 57-81.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Molinari, Francesca, 2020. "Microeconometrics with partial identification," Handbook of Econometrics, in: Steven N. Durlauf & Lars Peter Hansen & James J. Heckman & Rosa L. Matzkin (ed.), Handbook of Econometrics, edition 1, volume 7, chapter 0, pages 355-486, Elsevier.
    2. Thomas M. Russell, 2020. "Policy Transforms and Learning Optimal Policies," Papers 2012.11046, arXiv.org.
    3. Hiroaki Kaido & Yi Zhang, 2019. "Robust Likelihood Ratio Tests for Incomplete Economic Models," Papers 1910.04610, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2019.
    4. Ho, Kate & Rosen, Adam M., 2015. "Partial Identification in Applied Research: Benefits and Challenges," CEPR Discussion Papers 10883, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Shuowen Chen & Hiroaki Kaido, 2022. "Robust Tests of Model Incompleteness in the Presence of Nuisance Parameters," Papers 2208.11281, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2023.
    6. Larry G. Epstein & Hiroaki Kaido & Kyoungwon Seo, 2016. "Robust Confidence Regions for Incomplete Models," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 84, pages 1799-1838, September.
    7. Chesher, Andrew & Rosen, Adam M., 2020. "Generalized instrumental variable models, methods, and applications," Handbook of Econometrics, in: Steven N. Durlauf & Lars Peter Hansen & James J. Heckman & Rosa L. Matzkin (ed.), Handbook of Econometrics, edition 1, volume 7, chapter 0, pages 1-110, Elsevier.
    8. Brendan Kline & Elie Tamer, 2024. "Counterfactual Analysis in Empirical Games," Papers 2410.12731, arXiv.org.
    9. Timothy Christensen & Benjamin Connault, 2023. "Counterfactual Sensitivity and Robustness," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 91(1), pages 263-298, January.
    10. Bontemps, Christian & Kumar, Rohit, 2020. "A geometric approach to inference in set-identified entry games," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 218(2), pages 373-389.
    11. Marc Henry & Romuald Méango & Maurice Queyranne, 2012. "Combinatorial Bootstrap Inference IN in Prtially Identified Incomplete Structural Models," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-837, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    12. Lixiong Li & Marc Henry, 2022. "Finite Sample Inference in Incomplete Models," Papers 2204.00473, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2025.
    13. Marcoux, Mathieu, 2022. "Strategic interactions in mobile network investment with a new entrant and unobserved heterogeneity," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    14. Andrew Chesher & Adam Rosen, 2012. "Simultaneous equations for discrete outcomes: coherence, completeness, and identification," CeMMAP working papers 21/12, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    15. Christian Bontemps & Rohit Kumar, 2019. "A Geometric Approach to Inference in Set-Identified Entry Games," Working Papers hal-02137356, HAL.
    16. Levon Barseghyan & Maura Coughlin & Francesca Molinari & Joshua C. Teitelbaum, 2021. "Heterogeneous Choice Sets and Preferences," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 89(5), pages 2015-2048, September.
    17. Francesca Molinari, 2019. "Econometrics with Partial Identification," CeMMAP working papers CWP25/19, Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    18. Donald W. K. Andrews & Xiaoxia Shi, 2013. "Inference Based on Conditional Moment Inequalities," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 81(2), pages 609-666, March.
    19. Alexander Torgovitsky, 2019. "Partial identification by extending subdistributions," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 10(1), pages 105-144, January.
    20. Aguiar, Victor H. & Kashaev, Nail & Allen, Roy, 2023. "Prices, profits, proxies, and production," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 235(2), pages 666-693.

    More about this item

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2603.07722. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: arXiv administrators (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://arxiv.org/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.