EconBase
← All papers

Binary Classification with the Maximum Score Model and Linear Programming

Joel L. Horowitz, Sokbae Lee

arXiv 25 Jul 2025 · Econometrics

arXiv:2507.19654 · PDF · Extracted main text

Abstract

This paper presents a computationally efficient method for binary classification using Manski's (1975,1985) maximum score model when covariates are discretely distributed and parameters are partially but not point identified. We establish conditions under which it is minimax optimal to allow for either non-classification or random classification and derive finite-sample and asymptotic lower bounds on the probability of correct classification. We also describe an extension of our method to continuous covariates. Our approach avoids the computational difficulty of maximum score estimation by reformulating the problem as two linear programs. Compared to parametric and nonparametric methods, our method balances extrapolation ability with minimal distributional assumptions. Monte Carlo simulations and empirical applications demonstrate its effectiveness and practical relevance.

Citation extraction

38
references
47
in-text mentions
38
distinct cited
2
self-citations
13,032
main-text words

appendix boundary found by appendix_command · 73% 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
1Manski and Tamer (2002) Inference on regressions with interval data on a regressor or outcome0.84333100%
2Corno, Hildebrandt, and Voena (2020) Age of Marriage, Weather Shocks, and the Direction of Marriage Payments0.81142100%
3Kessler, Low, and Sullivan (2019) Incentivized Resume Rating: Eliciting Employer Preferences without Deception0.64422100%
4Manski (1988) Identification of binary response models0.64422100%
5Rosen and Ura (2025) Finite Sample Inference for the Maximum Score Estimand0.64422100%
6Manski (2009) The 2009 Lawrence R. Klein Lecture: Diversified Treatment under Ambiguity0.51121100%
7Cattaneo, Jansson, and Nagasawa (2020) Bootstrap-Based Inference for Cube Root Asymptotics0.40511100%
8Chen and Lee (2018) Best subset binary prediction0.40511100%
9Chen and Lee (2020) Binary classification with covariate selection through $_0$-penalised empirical risk minimisation0.40511100%
10Dempster (2008) The Dempster–Shafer calculus for statisticians0.40511100%

Showing the top 10 of 38 scored citations.