Estimating Discrete Choice Demand Models with Sparse Market-Product Shocks

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Lu, Zhentong, Shimizu, Kenichi
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Lu, Zhentong
Shimizu, Kenichi
author_facet Lu, Zhentong
Shimizu, Kenichi
contents We propose a new approach to estimating the random coefficient logit demand model for differentiated products when the vector of market-product level shocks is sparse. Assuming sparsity, we establish nonparametric identification of the distribution of random coefficients and demand shocks under mild conditions. Then we develop a Bayesian procedure, which exploits the sparsity structure using shrinkage priors, to conduct inference about the model parameters and counterfactual quantities. Comparing to the standard BLP (Berry, Levinsohn, & Pakes, 1995) method, our approach does not require demand inversion or instrumental variables (IVs), thus provides a compelling alternative when IVs are not available or their validity is questionable. Monte Carlo simulations validate our theoretical findings and demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, while empirical applications reveal evidence of sparse demand shocks in well-known datasets.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_02381
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Estimating Discrete Choice Demand Models with Sparse Market-Product Shocks
Lu, Zhentong
Shimizu, Kenichi
Econometrics
We propose a new approach to estimating the random coefficient logit demand model for differentiated products when the vector of market-product level shocks is sparse. Assuming sparsity, we establish nonparametric identification of the distribution of random coefficients and demand shocks under mild conditions. Then we develop a Bayesian procedure, which exploits the sparsity structure using shrinkage priors, to conduct inference about the model parameters and counterfactual quantities. Comparing to the standard BLP (Berry, Levinsohn, & Pakes, 1995) method, our approach does not require demand inversion or instrumental variables (IVs), thus provides a compelling alternative when IVs are not available or their validity is questionable. Monte Carlo simulations validate our theoretical findings and demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, while empirical applications reveal evidence of sparse demand shocks in well-known datasets.
title Estimating Discrete Choice Demand Models with Sparse Market-Product Shocks
topic Econometrics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.02381