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Bias Correction in Factor-Augmented Regression Models with Weak Factors

Peiyun Jiang, Yoshimasa Uematsu, Takashi Yamagata

arXiv 2 Sep 2025 · Statistics — Methodology

arXiv:2509.02066 · PDF · Extracted main text

Abstract

In this paper, we study the asymptotic bias of the factor-augmented regression estimator and its reduction, which is augmented by the $r$ factors extracted from a large number of $N$ variables with $T$ observations. In particular, we consider general weak latent factor models with $r$ signal eigenvalues that may diverge at different rates, $N^{\alpha _{k}}$, $0<\alpha _{k}\leq 1$, $k=1,\dots,r$. In the existing literature, the bias has been derived using an approximation for the estimated factors with a specific data-dependent rotation matrix $\hat{H}$ for the model with $\alpha_{k}=1$ for all $k$, whereas we derive the bias for weak factor models. In addition, we derive the bias using the approximation with a different rotation matrix $\hat{H}_q$, which generally has a smaller bias than with $\hat{H}$. We also derive the bias using our preferred approximation with a purely signal-dependent rotation $H$, which is unique and can be regarded as the population version of $\hat{H}$ and $\hat{H}_q$. Since this bias is parametrically inestimable, we propose a split-panel jackknife bias correction, and theory shows that it successfully reduces the bias. The extensive finite-sample experiments suggest that the proposed bias correction works very well, and the empirical application illustrates its usefulness in practice.

Citation extraction

30
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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
1Goncalves, S. and B. Perron (2014) Bootstrapping factor-augmented regression models1.000134100%
2Goncalves, S. and B. Perron (2020) Bootstrapping factor models with cross sectional dependence1.00084100%
3Bai, J. and S. Ng (2006) Confidence intervals for diffusion index forecasts and inference with factor-augmented regressions1.00075100%
4Bai, J. and S. Ng (2023) Approximate factor models with weaker loadings0.9507486%
5Jiang, P., Y. Uematsu, and T. Yamagata (2023) Revisiting asymptotic theory for principal component estimators of approximate factor models self0.86314464%
6Cochrane, J. H. and M. Piazzesi (2005) Bond risk premia0.73732100%
7Stock, J. H. and M. W. Watson (2002) Forecasting using principal components from a large number of predictors0.73732100%
8Bickel, P. J. and E. Levina (2008) Covariance regularization by thresholding0.64422100%
9Fan, J., Y. Liao, and M. Mincheva (2013) Large covariance estimation by thresholding principal orthogonal complements0.64422100%
10Freyaldenhoven (2022) Factor models with local factors - determining the number of relevant factors0.64422100%

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Cited by, within the corpus

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

Citing paperIntensityMentionsSections
1An alternative bootstrap procedure for factor-augmented regression models0.865174
2Bootstrap Inference in Nonlinear Panel Data Models with Interactive Fixed Effects0.64422