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Local Indirect Least Squares and Average Marginal Effects in Nonseparable Structural Systems

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  • Susanne Schennach

    (University of Chicago)

  • Halbert White
  • Karim Chalak

    (Boston College)

Abstract

We study the scope of local indirect least squares (LILS) methods for nonparametrically estimating average marginal effects of an endogenous cause X on a response Y in triangular structural systems that need not exhibit linearity, separability, or monotonicity in scalar unobservables. One main finding is negative: in the fully nonseparable case, LILS methods cannot recover the average marginal effect. LILS methods can nevertheless test the hypothesis of no effect in the general nonseparable case. We provide new nonparametric asymptotic theory, treating both the traditional case of observed exogenous instruments Z and the case where one observes only error-laden proxies for Z.

Suggested Citation

  • Susanne Schennach & Halbert White & Karim Chalak, 2007. "Local Indirect Least Squares and Average Marginal Effects in Nonseparable Structural Systems," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 680, Boston College Department of Economics, revised 26 Dec 2009.
    • Handle: RePEc:boc:bocoec:680
    Note: Previously circulated as "Estimating average marginal effects in nonseparable structural systems"
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    2. Susanne M. Schennach, 2012. "Measurement error in nonlinear models - a review," CeMMAP working papers CWP41/12, Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    3. Xavier d'Haultfoeuille & Stefan Hoderlein & Yuya Sasaki, 2013. "Nonlinear difference-in-differences in repeated cross sections with continuous treatments," CeMMAP working papers 40/13, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    4. James J. Heckman, 2010. "Building Bridges between Structural and Program Evaluation Approaches to Evaluating Policy," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 48(2), pages 356-398, June.
    5. Joeri Smits & Jeffrey S. Racine, 2013. "Testing Exclusion Restrictions in Nonseparable Triangular Models," Department of Economics Working Papers 2013-02, McMaster University.
    6. James J. Heckman & John Eric Humphries & Gregory Veramendi, 2018. "Returns to Education: The Causal Effects of Education on Earnings, Health, and Smoking," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 126(S1), pages 197-246.
    7. Kato, Kengo & Sasaki, Yuya, 2019. "Uniform confidence bands for nonparametric errors-in-variables regression," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 213(2), pages 516-555.
    8. Hoderlein, Stefan & White, Halbert, 2012. "Nonparametric identification in nonseparable panel data models with generalized fixed effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 168(2), pages 300-314.
    9. Luke Taylor & Taisuke Otsu, 2019. "Estimation of nonseparable models with censored dependent variables and endogenous regressors," Econometric Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(1), pages 4-24, January.
    10. Karim Chalak & Halbert White, 2007. "An Extended Class of Instrumental Variables for the Estimation of Causal Effects," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 692, Boston College Department of Economics, revised 30 Nov 2009.
    11. Hao Dong & Yuya Sasaki, 2022. "Estimation of average derivatives of latent regressors: with an application to inference on buffer-stock saving," Departmental Working Papers 2204, Southern Methodist University, Department of Economics.
    12. Florian Gunsilius, 2018. "Point-identification in multivariate nonseparable triangular models," Papers 1806.09680, arXiv.org.
    13. repec:cep:stiecm:/2014/575 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Karun Adusumilli & Taisuke Otsu, 2015. "Nonparametric instrumental regression with errors in variables," STICERD - Econometrics Paper Series /2015/585, Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, LSE.
    15. Heckman, James J. & Humphries, John Eric & Veramendi, Gregory, 2016. "Dynamic treatment effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 191(2), pages 276-292.
    16. Kasy, Maximilian, "undated". "Instrumental variables with unrestricted heterogeneity and continuous treatment - DON'T CITE! SEE ERRATUM BELOW," Working Paper 33257, Harvard University OpenScholar.
    17. Jinyong Hahn & Geert Ridder, 2011. "Conditional Moment Restrictions and Triangular Simultaneous Equations," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 93(2), pages 683-689, May.
    18. Santos, Andres, 2011. "Instrumental variable methods for recovering continuous linear functionals," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 161(2), pages 129-146, April.
    19. Lu, Xun & White, Habert, 2015. "Testing For Treatment Dependence Of Effects Of A Continuous Treatment," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 31(5), pages 1016-1053, October.
    20. Maximilian Kasy, 2014. "Instrumental Variables with Unrestricted Heterogeneity and Continuous Treatment," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 81(4), pages 1614-1636.
    21. Lu, Xun & White, Halbert, 2014. "Testing for separability in structural equations," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 182(1), pages 14-26.
    22. Halbert White & Karim Chalak, 2013. "Identification and Identification Failure for Treatment Effects Using Structural Systems," Econometric Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(3), pages 273-317, November.
    23. Halbert White & Karim Chalak, 2008. "Identifying Structural Effects in Nonseparable Systems Using Covariates," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 734, Boston College Department of Economics.
    24. Chalak, Karim, 2024. "Nonparametric Gini-Frisch bounds," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 238(1).
    25. Roy Allen & John Rehbeck, 2020. "Hicksian complementarity and perturbed utility models," Economic Theory Bulletin, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 8(2), pages 245-261, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    indirect least squares; instrumental variables; measurement error; nonparametric estimator; nonseparable structural equations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models

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