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Discretizing Unobserved Heterogeneity

Author

Listed:
  • Bonhomme, Stéphane

    (University of Chicago)

  • Lamadon, Thibaut

    (University of Chicago)

  • Manresa, Elena

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The Sloan School of Mangement)

Abstract
We study panel data estimators based on a discretization of unobserved heterogeneity when individual heterogeneity is not necessarily discrete in the population. We focus on two-step grouped-fixed effects estimators, where individuals are classified into groups in a first step using kmeans clustering, and the model is estimated in a second step allowing for group-specific heterogeneity. We analyze the asymptotic properties of these discrete estimators as the number of groups grows with the sample size, and we show that bias reduction techniques can improve their performance. In addition to reducing the number of parameters, grouped fixed-effects methods provide effective regularization. When allowing for the presence of time-varying unobserved heterogeneity, we show they enjoy fast rates of convergence depending of the underlying dimension of heterogeneity. Finally, we document the finite sample properties of two-step grouped fixed-effects estimators in two applications: a structural dynamic discrete choice model of migration, and a model of wages with worker and firm heterogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Bonhomme, Stéphane & Lamadon, Thibaut & Manresa, Elena, 2017. "Discretizing Unobserved Heterogeneity," Working Paper Series 2017:21, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:ifauwp:2017_021
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dimension reduction; panel data; structural models; kmeans clustering;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C38 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Classification Methdos; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components; Factor Analysis

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