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Main Authors: Chen, Songnian, Feng, Junlong
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.15761
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author Chen, Songnian
Feng, Junlong
author_facet Chen, Songnian
Feng, Junlong
contents We propose a new factor analysis framework and estimators of the factors and loadings that are robust to certain weak factors in a large $N$ and large $T$ setting. Our framework, by simultaneously considering all quantile levels of the outcome variable, induces standard mean and quantile factor models, but the factors can have an arbitrarily weak influence on the outcome's mean or quantile at most quantile levels. Our method estimates the factor space at the $\sqrt{N}$-rate as long as each factor is strong at some unknown quantile level, and achieves $\sqrt{N}$- and $\sqrt{T}$-asymptotic normality for the factors and loadings based on a novel sample splitting approach that handles incidental nuisance parameters. We also develop a weak-factor-robust estimator of the number of factors and consistent selectors of factors of any tolerated level of influence on the outcome's mean or quantiles. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_15761
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Universal Factor Models
Chen, Songnian
Feng, Junlong
Econometrics
We propose a new factor analysis framework and estimators of the factors and loadings that are robust to certain weak factors in a large $N$ and large $T$ setting. Our framework, by simultaneously considering all quantile levels of the outcome variable, induces standard mean and quantile factor models, but the factors can have an arbitrarily weak influence on the outcome's mean or quantile at most quantile levels. Our method estimates the factor space at the $\sqrt{N}$-rate as long as each factor is strong at some unknown quantile level, and achieves $\sqrt{N}$- and $\sqrt{T}$-asymptotic normality for the factors and loadings based on a novel sample splitting approach that handles incidental nuisance parameters. We also develop a weak-factor-robust estimator of the number of factors and consistent selectors of factors of any tolerated level of influence on the outcome's mean or quantiles. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
title Universal Factor Models
topic Econometrics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.15761