Estimating Parameters of Structural Models Using Neural Networks

Fuente: arXiv
Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Yanhao, Wei, Jiang, Zhenling
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
_version_ 1866913683451412480
author Yanhao
Wei
Jiang, Zhenling
author_facet Yanhao
Wei
Jiang, Zhenling
contents We study an alternative use of machine learning. We train neural nets to provide the parameter estimate of a given (structural) econometric model, for example, discrete choice or consumer search. Training examples consist of datasets generated by the econometric model under a range of parameter values. The neural net takes the moments of a dataset as input and tries to recognize the parameter value underlying that dataset. Besides the point estimate, the neural net can also output statistical accuracy. This neural net estimator (NNE) tends to limited-information Bayesian posterior as the number of training datasets increases. We apply NNE to a consumer search model. It gives more accurate estimates at lighter computational costs than the prevailing approach. NNE is also robust to redundant moment inputs. In general, NNE offers the most benefits in applications where other estimation approaches require very heavy simulation costs. We provide code at: https://nnehome.github.io.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_04945
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Estimating Parameters of Structural Models Using Neural Networks
Yanhao
Wei
Jiang, Zhenling
Econometrics
Computation
G.3; J.4; I.2
We study an alternative use of machine learning. We train neural nets to provide the parameter estimate of a given (structural) econometric model, for example, discrete choice or consumer search. Training examples consist of datasets generated by the econometric model under a range of parameter values. The neural net takes the moments of a dataset as input and tries to recognize the parameter value underlying that dataset. Besides the point estimate, the neural net can also output statistical accuracy. This neural net estimator (NNE) tends to limited-information Bayesian posterior as the number of training datasets increases. We apply NNE to a consumer search model. It gives more accurate estimates at lighter computational costs than the prevailing approach. NNE is also robust to redundant moment inputs. In general, NNE offers the most benefits in applications where other estimation approaches require very heavy simulation costs. We provide code at: https://nnehome.github.io.
title Estimating Parameters of Structural Models Using Neural Networks
topic Econometrics
Computation
G.3; J.4; I.2
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.04945