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Focused Weighted-Average Least Squares Estimator

Shou-Yung Yin

arXiv 3 Mar 2026 · Econometrics

arXiv:2603.03008 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

We propose a focused weighted-average least squares (FWALS) estimator that addresses the computational burden of focused model averaging. By semi-orthogonalizing auxiliary regressors, the weighting problem is reduced from $2^{k_2}$ sub-models to at most $k_2$ regressor-wise weights, yielding a tractable sub-optimal procedure. Under local-to-zero conditions, we derive the limiting distribution of FWALS for smooth focused functions and provide a plug-in AMSE criterion for data-driven weight selection. Simulations show that FWALS closely matches the focused information criterion (FIC) benchmark and delivers stable performance when focused function is designed for impulse response function. Prior-based WALS can be competitive in some settings, but its performance depends on the signal regime and the design of focused parameter. Overall, FWALS offers a practical and robust alternative with substantial computational savings.

Citation extraction

27
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64
in-text mentions
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appendix boundary found by appendix_titled_section at “Appendix A” · 83% 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
1Magnus, Jan R. and Powell, Owen and Prüfer, Patricia (2010) A Comparison of two Model Averaging Techniques With an Application to Growth Empirics1.000115100%
2Liu, Chu-An (2015) Distribution Theory of the Least Squares Averaging Estimator1.000114100%
3Luca, Giuseppe De and Magnus, Jan R. and Peracchi, Franco (2025) Bayesian Estimation of the Normal Location Model: A Non‐Standard Approach0.87452100%
4De Luca, Giuseppe and Magnus, Jan R and Peracchi, Franco (2018) Weighted-average least squares estimation of generalized linear models0.84333100%
5Charkhi, Ali and Claeskens, Gerda and Hansen, Bruce E (2016) Minimum Mean Squared Error Model Averaging in Likelihood Models0.81142100%
6Luca, Giuseppe De and Magnus, Jan R. and Peracchi, Franco (2022) Sampling properties of the Bayesian posterior mean with an application to WALS estimation0.73732100%
7Zhu, Rong and Wang, Haiying and Zhang, Xinyu and Liang, Hua (2023) A Scalable Frequentist Model Averaging Method0.73732100%
8Lohmeyer, Jan and Palm, Franz and Reuvers, Hanno and Urbain, Jean-Pi… (2019) Focused information criterion for locally misspecified vector autoregressive models0.64422100%
9Lu, Xun (2015) A Covariate Selection Criterion for Estimation of Treatment Effects0.64422100%
10Hansen, Bruce E (2007) Least Squares Model Averaging0.64422100%

Showing the top 10 of 27 scored citations.