EconBase
← All papers

Comment on "Generic machine learning inference on heterogeneous treatment effects in randomized experiments."

Kosuke Imai, Michael Lingzhi Li

arXiv 10 Feb 2025 · Statistics — Methodology

arXiv:2502.06758 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

We analyze the split-sample robust inference (SSRI) methodology proposed by Chernozhukov, Demirer, Duflo, and Fernandez-Val (CDDF) for quantifying uncertainty in heterogeneous treatment effect estimation. While SSRI effectively accounts for randomness in data splitting, its computational cost can be prohibitive when combined with complex machine learning (ML) models. We present an alternative randomization inference (RI) approach that maintains SSRI's generality without requiring repeated data splitting. By leveraging cross-fitting and design-based inference, RI achieves valid confidence intervals while significantly reducing computational burden. We compare the two methods through simulation, demonstrating that RI retains statistical efficiency while being more practical for large-scale applications.

Citation extraction

6
references
10
in-text mentions
6
distinct cited
3
self-citations
2,392
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
1Imai, K. and Li, M. L (2022) Statistical inference for heterogeneous treatment effects discovered by generic machine learning in randomized experiments self0.69351100%
2Dorie, V., Hill, J., Shalit, U., Scott, M., and Cervone, D (2019) Automated versus do-it-yourself methods for causal inference: Lessons learned from a data analysis competition0.40511100%
3Li, M. L., Imai, K., Li, J., and Yang, X (2023) evalITR: evaluating individualized treatment rules self0.40511100%
4Imai, K. and Li, M. L (2023) Experimental evaluation of individualized treatment rules self0.40511100%
5Nadeau, C. and Bengio, Y (2000) Inference for the generalization error0.40511100%
6Neyman, J (1923) On the application of probability theory to agricultural experiments: Essay on principles, section 9. (translated in 1990)0.40511100%

Showing the top 6 of 6 scored citations.