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Main Authors: Lee, Jieun, Bera, Anil K.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.22599
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author Lee, Jieun
Bera, Anil K.
author_facet Lee, Jieun
Bera, Anil K.
contents We study Cressie Read power divergence (CRPD) estimation for moment based models, focusing on finite sample behavior. While generalized empirical likelihood estimators, dual to CRPD, are known to outperform generalized method of moments estimators in small to moderate samples, the power parameter is typically chosen arbitrarily by the researcher, serving mainly as an index. We interpret it as a hyperparameter that determines the loss function and governs the learning procedure, shaping the curvature of the objective and influencing finite sample performance. Using second order asymptotics, we show that it affects both the structural estimator and the associated Lagrange multipliers, governing robustness, bias, and sensitivity to sampling variation. Monte Carlo simulations illustrate how estimator performance varies with the choice of the power parameter and underlying distributional features, with implications for second order bias and coverage distortion. An empirical illustration based on Owen (2001)s classical example highlights the practical relevance of tuning the power parameter.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_22599
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Cressie Read Power Divergence for Moment-Based Estimation: Hyperparameter and Finite Sample Behavior
Lee, Jieun
Bera, Anil K.
Econometrics
We study Cressie Read power divergence (CRPD) estimation for moment based models, focusing on finite sample behavior. While generalized empirical likelihood estimators, dual to CRPD, are known to outperform generalized method of moments estimators in small to moderate samples, the power parameter is typically chosen arbitrarily by the researcher, serving mainly as an index. We interpret it as a hyperparameter that determines the loss function and governs the learning procedure, shaping the curvature of the objective and influencing finite sample performance. Using second order asymptotics, we show that it affects both the structural estimator and the associated Lagrange multipliers, governing robustness, bias, and sensitivity to sampling variation. Monte Carlo simulations illustrate how estimator performance varies with the choice of the power parameter and underlying distributional features, with implications for second order bias and coverage distortion. An empirical illustration based on Owen (2001)s classical example highlights the practical relevance of tuning the power parameter.
title Cressie Read Power Divergence for Moment-Based Estimation: Hyperparameter and Finite Sample Behavior
topic Econometrics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.22599