Seminar

Nonparametric Identification under Induction Properties

Philippe Février (CREST-ENSAE)

March 6, 2012, 15:30–17:00

Toulouse

Room Amphi S

Econometrics Seminar

Abstract

This paper unifies and extends several recent nonparametric identification results on IV models by showing that they all satisfy what we call an induction property. This property states that if the structural function is identified at a given point, then it is also identified at another point. Using results from group theory, we characterize the set where the structural function is identified under this property. The nature of this set depends on the dimensionality of the problem and on a property of the underlying group action, which is called freeness. Full identification can be achieved in the one dimension case under freeness. In the nonfree case, identification can be achieved but under a stronger induction property. We obtain a partial characterization in the multivariate case. We illustrate our framework to several settings, and provide new results on the identification of nonseparable sample selection models with discrete instruments.

Keywords

Nonparametric Identification; Induction property; Group Theory;

JEL codes

  • C14: Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General