Double Robust Bayesian Inference on Average Treatment Effects

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Breunig, Christoph, Liu, Ruixuan, Yu, Zhengfei
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2022
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author Breunig, Christoph
Liu, Ruixuan
Yu, Zhengfei
author_facet Breunig, Christoph
Liu, Ruixuan
Yu, Zhengfei
contents We propose a double robust Bayesian inference procedure on the average treatment effect (ATE) under unconfoundedness. For our new Bayesian approach, we first adjust the prior distributions of the conditional mean functions, and then correct the posterior distribution of the resulting ATE. Both adjustments make use of pilot estimators motivated by the semiparametric influence function for ATE estimation. We prove asymptotic equivalence of our Bayesian procedure and efficient frequentist ATE estimators by establishing a new semiparametric Bernstein-von Mises theorem under double robustness; i.e., the lack of smoothness of conditional mean functions can be compensated by high regularity of the propensity score and vice versa. Consequently, the resulting Bayesian credible sets form confidence intervals with asymptotically exact coverage probability. In simulations, our method provides precise point estimates of the ATE through the posterior mean and credible intervals that closely align with the nominal coverage probability. Furthermore, our approach achieves a shorter interval length in comparison to existing methods. We illustrate our method in an application to the National Supported Work Demonstration following LaLonde [1986] and Dehejia and Wahba [1999].
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2211_16298
institution arXiv
publishDate 2022
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Double Robust Bayesian Inference on Average Treatment Effects
Breunig, Christoph
Liu, Ruixuan
Yu, Zhengfei
Econometrics
Methodology
Machine Learning
We propose a double robust Bayesian inference procedure on the average treatment effect (ATE) under unconfoundedness. For our new Bayesian approach, we first adjust the prior distributions of the conditional mean functions, and then correct the posterior distribution of the resulting ATE. Both adjustments make use of pilot estimators motivated by the semiparametric influence function for ATE estimation. We prove asymptotic equivalence of our Bayesian procedure and efficient frequentist ATE estimators by establishing a new semiparametric Bernstein-von Mises theorem under double robustness; i.e., the lack of smoothness of conditional mean functions can be compensated by high regularity of the propensity score and vice versa. Consequently, the resulting Bayesian credible sets form confidence intervals with asymptotically exact coverage probability. In simulations, our method provides precise point estimates of the ATE through the posterior mean and credible intervals that closely align with the nominal coverage probability. Furthermore, our approach achieves a shorter interval length in comparison to existing methods. We illustrate our method in an application to the National Supported Work Demonstration following LaLonde [1986] and Dehejia and Wahba [1999].
title Double Robust Bayesian Inference on Average Treatment Effects
topic Econometrics
Methodology
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.16298