EconBase
← All papers

Individual Shrinkage for Random Effects

Raffaella Giacomini, Sokbae Lee, Silvia Sarpietro

arXiv 3 Aug 2023 · Econometrics

arXiv:2308.01596 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

This paper develops a novel approach to random effects estimation and individual-level forecasting in micropanels, targeting individual accuracy rather than aggregate performance. The conventional shrinkage methods used in the literature, such as the James-Stein estimator and Empirical Bayes, target aggregate performance and can lead to inaccurate decisions at the individual level. We propose a class of shrinkage estimators with individual weights (IW) that leverage an individual's own past history, instead of the cross-sectional dimension. This approach overcomes the "tyranny of the majority" inherent in existing methods, while relying on weaker assumptions. A key contribution is addressing the challenge of obtaining feasible weights from short time-series data and under parameter heterogeneity. We discuss the theoretical optimality of IW and recommend using feasible weights determined through a Minimax Regret analysis in practice.

Citation extraction

33
references
88
in-text mentions
34
distinct cited
0
self-citations
19,324
main-text words

appendix boundary found by none_found · 100% of the source is main text. Read the extracted text to check this.

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
1Charles F Manski (2021) Econometrics for decision making: Building foundations sketched by Haavelmo and Wald1.00063100%
2Bradley Efron and Carl Morris (1973) Stein's estimation rule and its competitors–-an empirical Bayes approach0.92843100%
3Laura Liu, Hyungsik Roger Moon, and Frank Schorfheide (2020) Forecasting with dynamic panel data models0.874102100%
4Patrick Kline, Evan K Rose, and Christopher R Walters (2022) Systemic discrimination among large US employers0.874102100%
5Bradley Efron (2010) Large-scale inference, volume 1 of institute of mathematical statistics (IMS) monographs, 20100.87452100%
6Jiaying Gu and Roger Koenker (2015) Unobserved heterogeneity in income dynamics: An empirical Bayes perspective0.87452100%
7James H Stock and Mark W Watson (1998) A comparison of linear and nonlinear univariate models for forecasting macroeconomic time series0.81142100%
8W. James and Charles Stein (1961) Estimation with quadratic loss. proc. 4th Berkeley sympos. math. statist. and prob., vol. i. Berkeley, calif.: Univ. California…0.73732100%
9Bradley Efron and Carl Morris (1971) Limiting the risk of Bayes and empirical Bayes estimators–-part i: the Bayes case0.73732100%
10Bradley Efron (2016) Empirical Bayes deconvolution estimates0.73732100%

Showing the top 10 of 34 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
1Empirical Bayes Estimation in Heterogeneous Coefficient Panel Models0.40511