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Robust Inference Methods for Latent Group Panel Models under Possible Group Non-Separation

Oguzhan Akgun, Ryo Okui

arXiv 23 Nov 2025 · Econometrics

arXiv:2511.18550 · PDF · Extracted main text

Abstract

This paper presents robust inference methods for general linear hypotheses in linear panel data models with latent group structure in the coefficients. We employ a selective conditional inference approach, deriving the conditional distribution of coefficient estimates given the group structure estimated from the data. Our procedure provides valid inference under possible violations of group separation, where distributional properties of group-specific coefficients remain unestablished. Furthermore, even when group separation does hold, our method demonstrates superior finite-sample properties compared to traditional asymptotic approaches. This improvement stems from our procedure's ability to account for statistical uncertainty in the estimation of group structure. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through Monte Carlo simulations and apply the methods to two datasets on: (i) the relationship between income and democracy, and (ii) the cyclicality of firm-level R&D investment.

Citation extraction

71
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distinct cited
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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
1Bonhomme, Stéphane and Manresa, Elena (2015) Grouped Patterns of Heterogeneity in Panel Data1.000155100%
2Loyo, Jhordano Aguilar and Boot, Tom (2025) Grouped heterogeneity in linear panel data models with heterogeneous error variances1.000103100%
3Gao, Lucy L. and Jacob Bien and Daniela Witten (2024) Selective Inference for Hierarchical Clustering1.00074100%
4Patton, Andrew J. and Brian M. Weller (2023) Testing for Unobserved Heterogeneity via k-means Clustering1.00064100%
5Yiqun T. Chen and Daniela M. Witten (2023) Selective inference for k-means clustering0.96911691%
6Chen, Yiqun T and Gao, Lucy L (2024) Testing for a difference in means of a single feature after clustering0.92843100%
7Okui, Ryo and Wang, Wendun (2021) Heterogeneous structural breaks in panel data models self0.84333100%
8Wang, Yiren and Phillips, Peter C. B. and Su, Liangjun (2024) Panel data models with time-varying latent group structures0.81142100%
9Lin, Chang-Ching and Ng, Serena (2012) Estimation of Panel Data Models with Parameter Heterogeneity when Group Membership is Unknown0.64441100%
10Su, Liangjun and Shi, Zhentao and Phillips, Peter C. B (2016) Identifying Latent Structures in Panel Data0.64441100%

Showing the top 10 of 71 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
1Detection Boundaries for Panel Slope Homogeneity Tests Under Small-Group Heterogeneity0.40511
2Inference methods for unit-specific coefficients in panel data models with latent group structure0.40511