Inference in Linear Dyadic Data Models with Network Spillovers

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Canen, Nathan, Sugiura, Ko
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2022
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author Canen, Nathan
Sugiura, Ko
author_facet Canen, Nathan
Sugiura, Ko
contents When using dyadic data (i.e., data indexed by pairs of units), researchers typically assume a linear model, estimate it using Ordinary Least Squares and conduct inference using ``dyadic-robust" variance estimators. The latter assumes that dyads are uncorrelated if they do not share a common unit (e.g., if the same individual is not present in both pairs of data). We show that this assumption does not hold in many empirical applications because indirect links may exist due to network connections, generating correlated outcomes. Hence, ``dyadic-robust'' estimators can be biased in such situations. We develop a consistent variance estimator for such contexts by leveraging results in network statistics. Our estimator has good finite sample properties in simulations, while allowing for decay in spillover effects. We illustrate our message with an application to politicians' voting behavior when they are seating neighbors in the European Parliament.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2203_03497
institution arXiv
publishDate 2022
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Inference in Linear Dyadic Data Models with Network Spillovers
Canen, Nathan
Sugiura, Ko
Econometrics
When using dyadic data (i.e., data indexed by pairs of units), researchers typically assume a linear model, estimate it using Ordinary Least Squares and conduct inference using ``dyadic-robust" variance estimators. The latter assumes that dyads are uncorrelated if they do not share a common unit (e.g., if the same individual is not present in both pairs of data). We show that this assumption does not hold in many empirical applications because indirect links may exist due to network connections, generating correlated outcomes. Hence, ``dyadic-robust'' estimators can be biased in such situations. We develop a consistent variance estimator for such contexts by leveraging results in network statistics. Our estimator has good finite sample properties in simulations, while allowing for decay in spillover effects. We illustrate our message with an application to politicians' voting behavior when they are seating neighbors in the European Parliament.
title Inference in Linear Dyadic Data Models with Network Spillovers
topic Econometrics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.03497