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Orthogonal Machine Learning: Power and Limitations

Lester Mackey, Vasilis Syrgkanis, Ilias Zadik

arXiv 1 Nov 2017 · Machine Learning · 8 citations (OpenAlex)

arXiv:1711.00342 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

Double machine learning provides $\sqrt{n}$-consistent estimates of parameters of interest even when high-dimensional or nonparametric nuisance parameters are estimated at an $n^{-1/4}$ rate. The key is to employ Neyman-orthogonal moment equations which are first-order insensitive to perturbations in the nuisance parameters. We show that the $n^{-1/4}$ requirement can be improved to $n^{-1/(2k+2)}$ by employing a $k$-th order notion of orthogonality that grants robustness to more complex or higher-dimensional nuisance parameters. In the partially linear regression setting popular in causal inference, we show that we can construct second-order orthogonal moments if and only if the treatment residual is not normally distributed. Our proof relies on Stein's lemma and may be of independent interest. We conclude by demonstrating the robustness benefits of an explicit doubly-orthogonal estimation procedure for treatment effect.

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Most heavily cited references

The works this paper leans on most, across its whole bibliography — not restricted to papers in our corpus. Ranked by composite intensity, which combines how often a work is mentioned, how many sections mention it, and how much of that falls in the main text rather than the appendix.

ReferenceIntensityMentionsSectionsMain text
1Chernozhukov, V., Chetverikov, D., Demirer, M., Duflo, E., Hansen, C… (2017) Double/debiased/neyman machine learning of treatment effects0.97916794%
2Belloni, A., Chernozhukov, V., Val, I. F., and Hansen, C Program evaluation and causal inference with high dimensional data0.40511100%
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5Neyman, J (1961) C(α) tests and their use0.40511100%
6Tibshirani, R. J., Taylor, J., Lockhart, R., and Tibshirani, R (2016) Exact post-selection inference for sequential regression procedures0.40511100%
7Zhang, C. H. and Zhang, S Confidence intervals for low dimensional parameters in high dimensional linear models0.40511100%
8van de Geer, S., Buhlmann, P., Ritov, Y., and Dezeure, R (2014) On asymptotically optimal confidence regions and tests for high-dimensional models0.40511100%
9Newey, W. and McFadden, D.l (1994) Chapter 36 large sample estimation and hypothesis testing0.000420%
10Flanders, H (1973) Differentiation under the integral sign0.000410%

Showing the top 10 of 14 scored citations.

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