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Robust Estimation and Inference in Panels with Interactive Fixed Effects

Timothy B. Armstrong, Martin Weidner, Andrei Zeleneev

arXiv 13 Oct 2022 · Econometrics · 5 citations (OpenAlex)

arXiv:2210.06639 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

We consider estimation and inference for a regression coefficient in panels with interactive fixed effects (i.e., with a factor structure). We demonstrate that existing estimators and confidence intervals (CIs) can be heavily biased and size-distorted when some of the factors are weak. We propose estimators with improved rates of convergence and bias-aware CIs that remain valid uniformly, regardless of factor strength. Our approach applies the theory of minimax linear estimation to form a debiased estimate, using a nuclear norm bound on the error of an initial estimate of the interactive fixed effects. Our resulting bias-aware CIs take into account the remaining bias caused by weak factors. Monte Carlo experiments show substantial improvements over conventional methods when factors are weak, with minimal costs to estimation accuracy when factors are strong.

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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
1Bai, J (2009) Panel data models with interactive fixed effects1.000144100%
2Javanmard, A. and A. Montanari (2014) Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing for High-Dimensional Regression1.00054100%
3Pesaran, M. H (2006) Estimation and inference in large heterogeneous panels with a multifactor error structure1.00053100%
4Zhu, Y (2019) How well can we learn large factor models without assuming strong factors?0.9098375%
5Moon, H. R. and M. Weidner (2015) Linear regression for panel with unknown number of factors as interactive fixed effects0.87412567%
6Chetverikov, D. and E. Manresa (2022) Spectral and post-spectral estimators for grouped panel data models0.87452100%
7Wolfers, J (2006) Did unilateral divorce laws raise divorce rates? a reconciliation and new results0.7636267%
8Armstrong, T. B., M. Kolesár, and S. Kwon (2020) Bias-Aware Inference in Regularized Regression Models self0.7374350%
9Kim, D. and T. Oka (2014) Divorce law reforms and divorce rates in the usa: An interactive fixed-effects approach0.7374275%
10Cox, G. F (2024) Weak identification in low-dimensional factor models with one or two factors0.64441100%

Showing the top 10 of 167 scored citations.

Cited by, within the corpus

arXiv econ.EM papers that cite this one, ranked by how heavily they lean on it.

Citing paperIntensityMentionsSections
1Local Asymptotic Power of Honest Confidence Intervals1.00093
20.5cmLow-Rank Estimation of Nonlinear Panel Data Models0.73732
3Robust Inference in Locally Misspecified Bipartite Networks0.64422
4Tractable Estimation of Nonlinear Panels with Interactive Fixed Effects0.64422
5Bootstrap Inference in Nonlinear Panel Data Models with Interactive Fixed Effects0.64422
6Nuclear Norm Regularized Estimation of Panel Regression Models0.40511
7A Simple and Computationally Trivial Estimator for Grouped Fixed Effects Models0.40511
8Spectral and Post-Spectral Estimators for Grouped Panel Data Models0.40511
9High Dimensional Factor Analysis with Weak Factors0.40511
10Sequential Synthetic Difference in Differences0.40511