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Identification and estimation of heterogeneous agent models: A likelihood approach

Author

Listed:
  • Juan Carlos Parra-Alvarez

    (Aarhus University and CREATES)

  • Olaf Posch

    (Hamburg University and CREATES)

  • Mu-Chun Wang

    (Hamburg University)

Abstract
In this paper, we study the statistical properties of heterogeneous agent models with incomplete markets. Using a Bewley-Hugget-Aiyagari model we compute the equilibrium density function of wealth and show how it can be used for likelihood inference. We investigate the identifiability of the model parameters based on data representing a large cross-section of individual wealth. We also study the finite sample properties of the maximum likelihood estimator using Monte Carlo experiments. Our results suggest that while the parameters related to the household's preferences can be correctly identified and accurately estimated, the parameters associated with the supply side of the economy cannot be separately identified leading to inferential problems that persist even in large samples. In the presence of partially identification problems, we show that an empirical strategy based on fixing the value of one of the troublesome parameters allows us to pin down the other unidentified parameter without compromising the estimation of the remaining parameters of the model. An empirical illustration of our maximum likelihood framework using the 2013 SCF data for the U.S. confirms the results from our identification experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Carlos Parra-Alvarez & Olaf Posch & Mu-Chun Wang, 2017. "Identification and estimation of heterogeneous agent models: A likelihood approach," CREATES Research Papers 2017-35, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    • Handle: RePEc:aah:create:2017-35
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    2. Achdou, Yves & Han, Jiequn & Lasry, Jean Michel & Lions, Pierre Louis & Moll, Ben, 2022. "Income and wealth distribution in macroeconomics: a continuous-time approach," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 107422, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Yves Achdou & Jiequn Han & Jean-Michel Lasry & Pierre-Louis Lionse & Benjamin Moll, 2022. "Income and Wealth Distribution in Macroeconomics: A Continuous-Time Approach," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(1), pages 45-86.
    4. Khieu, Hoang & Wälde, Klaus, 2023. "Capital income risk and the dynamics of the wealth distribution," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    5. Yves Achdou & Jiequn Han & Jean-Michel Lasry & Pierre-Louis Lions & Benjamin Moll, 2017. "Income and Wealth Distribution in Macroeconomics: A Continuous-Time Approach," NBER Working Papers 23732, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Juan Carlos Parra-Alvarez & Olaf Posch & Mu-Chun Wang, 2017. "Estimation of Heterogeneous Agent Models: A Likelihood Approach," CESifo Working Paper Series 6717, CESifo.
    7. Glawion, Rene & Puche, Marc & Haller, Frédéric, 2020. "A General Equilibrium Model of Earnings, Income, and Wealth," VfS Annual Conference 2020 (Virtual Conference): Gender Economics 224580, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Heterogeneous agent models; Continuous-time; Fokker-Planck equations; Identification; Maximum likelihood;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity

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