The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

On nonparametric additive error models with discrete regressors

On nonparametric additive error models with discrete regressors
On nonparametric additive error models with discrete regressors
This thesis contributes to the literature on nonparametric additive error models with discrete explanatory variables. Although nonparametric methods have become very popular in recent decades, research on the impact of the discreteness of regressors is sparse. Main interest is in an unknown nonparametric conditional mean function in the presence of endogenous explanatory variables. Under endogeneity, the identifying power of the model depends on the number of support points of the discrete instrument relative to that of the regressor. Under non-parametric identification failure, we show that some linear functionals of the conditional mean function are point-identified, while some are completely unconstrained. A test for point identification is suggested. Observing that the simple nonparametric model can be interpreted as a linear regression, new approaches to testing for exogeneity of the regressor(s) are proposed. For the point-identified case, the test is an adapted version of the familiar Durbin-Wu-Hausman approach. This extends the work of Blundell and Horowitz (2007) to the case of discrete regressors and instruments. For the partially identified case, the Durbin-Wu-Hausman approach is not available, and the test statistic is derived from a constrained minimization problem. In this second case, the asymptotic null distribution is non-standard, and a simple device is suggested to compute the critical values in practical applications. Both tests are shown to be consistent, and a simulation study reveals that both have satisfactory finite-sample properties. The practicability of the suggested testing procedures is illustrated in applications to the modelling of returns to education.
Bech, Katarzyna
3d520a54-dd93-4336-b008-99c53861ab45
Bech, Katarzyna
3d520a54-dd93-4336-b008-99c53861ab45
Hillier, Grant
3423bd61-c35f-497e-87a3-6a5fca73a2a1

Bech, Katarzyna (2015) On nonparametric additive error models with discrete regressors. University of Southampton, School of Social Sciences, Doctoral Thesis, 137pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

This thesis contributes to the literature on nonparametric additive error models with discrete explanatory variables. Although nonparametric methods have become very popular in recent decades, research on the impact of the discreteness of regressors is sparse. Main interest is in an unknown nonparametric conditional mean function in the presence of endogenous explanatory variables. Under endogeneity, the identifying power of the model depends on the number of support points of the discrete instrument relative to that of the regressor. Under non-parametric identification failure, we show that some linear functionals of the conditional mean function are point-identified, while some are completely unconstrained. A test for point identification is suggested. Observing that the simple nonparametric model can be interpreted as a linear regression, new approaches to testing for exogeneity of the regressor(s) are proposed. For the point-identified case, the test is an adapted version of the familiar Durbin-Wu-Hausman approach. This extends the work of Blundell and Horowitz (2007) to the case of discrete regressors and instruments. For the partially identified case, the Durbin-Wu-Hausman approach is not available, and the test statistic is derived from a constrained minimization problem. In this second case, the asymptotic null distribution is non-standard, and a simple device is suggested to compute the critical values in practical applications. Both tests are shown to be consistent, and a simulation study reveals that both have satisfactory finite-sample properties. The practicability of the suggested testing procedures is illustrated in applications to the modelling of returns to education.

Text
FinalThesis_Katarzyna BECH.pdf - Author's Original
Download (759kB)

More information

Published date: September 2015
Organisations: University of Southampton, Economics

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 389713
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/389713
PURE UUID: 494e8b94-1456-4774-9ca8-d09ed436e0a2
ORCID for Grant Hillier: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3261-5766

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 14 Mar 2016 13:38
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:44

Export record

Contributors

Author: Katarzyna Bech
Thesis advisor: Grant Hillier ORCID iD

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×