An Introduction to Double/Debiased Machine Learning

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Ahrens, Achim, Chernozhukov, Victor, Hansen, Christian, Kozbur, Damian, Schaffer, Mark, Wiemann, Thomas
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Ahrens, Achim
Chernozhukov, Victor
Hansen, Christian
Kozbur, Damian
Schaffer, Mark
Wiemann, Thomas
author_facet Ahrens, Achim
Chernozhukov, Victor
Hansen, Christian
Kozbur, Damian
Schaffer, Mark
Wiemann, Thomas
contents This paper provides an introduction to Double/Debiased Machine Learning (DML). DML is a general approach to performing inference about a target parameter in the presence of nuisance functions: objects that are needed to identify the target parameter but are not of primary interest. Nuisance functions arise naturally in many settings, such as when controlling for confounding variables or leveraging instruments. The paper describes two biases that arise from nuisance function estimation and explains how DML alleviates these biases. Consequently, DML allows the use of flexible methods, including machine learning tools, for estimating nuisance functions, reducing the dependence on auxiliary functional form assumptions and enabling the use of complex non-tabular data, such as text or images. We illustrate the application of DML through simulations and empirical examples. We conclude with a discussion of recommended practices. A companion website includes additional examples with code and references to other resources.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_08324
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An Introduction to Double/Debiased Machine Learning
Ahrens, Achim
Chernozhukov, Victor
Hansen, Christian
Kozbur, Damian
Schaffer, Mark
Wiemann, Thomas
Econometrics
Methodology
Machine Learning
This paper provides an introduction to Double/Debiased Machine Learning (DML). DML is a general approach to performing inference about a target parameter in the presence of nuisance functions: objects that are needed to identify the target parameter but are not of primary interest. Nuisance functions arise naturally in many settings, such as when controlling for confounding variables or leveraging instruments. The paper describes two biases that arise from nuisance function estimation and explains how DML alleviates these biases. Consequently, DML allows the use of flexible methods, including machine learning tools, for estimating nuisance functions, reducing the dependence on auxiliary functional form assumptions and enabling the use of complex non-tabular data, such as text or images. We illustrate the application of DML through simulations and empirical examples. We conclude with a discussion of recommended practices. A companion website includes additional examples with code and references to other resources.
title An Introduction to Double/Debiased Machine Learning
topic Econometrics
Methodology
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.08324