Working paper

Identification Of Mixtures Of Dynamic Discrete Choices

Ayden Higgins, and Koen Jochmans

Abstract

This paper provides new identification results for finite mixtures of Markov processes. Our arguments are constructive and show that identification can be achieved from knowledge of the cross-sectional distribution of three (or more) effective time-series observations under simple conditions. Our approach is contrasted with the ones taken in prior work by Kasahara and Shimotsu (2009) and Hu and Shum (2012). Most notably, monotonicity restrictions that link conditional distributions to latent types are not needed. Maximum likelihood is considered for the purpose of estimation and inference. Implementation via the EM algorithm is straightforward. Its performance is evaluated in a simulation exercise.

Keywords

Discrete choice; heterogeneity; Markov process; mixture; state dependence;

JEL codes

  • C14: Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
  • C23: Panel Data Models • Spatio-temporal Models
  • C51: Model Construction and Estimation

Replaced by

Ayden Higgins, and Koen Jochmans, Identification of Mixtures of Dynamic Discrete Choices, Journal of Econometrics, vol. 237, n. 1, 105462, November 2023.

Reference

Ayden Higgins, and Koen Jochmans, Identification Of Mixtures Of Dynamic Discrete Choices, TSE Working Paper, n. 21-1272, November 23, 2021, revised January 2023.

See also

Published in

TSE Working Paper, n. 21-1272, November 23, 2021, revised January 2023