Fixed-Effects estimation of the Linear Discrete-Time Hazard Model: an Adjusted First-Differences Estimator

Tauchmann H (2019)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Other publication type

Publication year: 2019

Series: FAU Discussion Papers in Economics

Journal Issue: 09/2019

Abstract

This paper shows that popular linear fixed-effects panel-data estimators (first-differences, within-transformation) are biased and inconsistent when applied in a discrete-time hazard setting, that is, one with the outcome variable being a binary dummy indicating an absorbing state, even if the data generating process is fully consistent with the linear discrete-time hazard model. Besides conventional survival bias, these estimators suffer from another source of – potentially severe – bias that originates from the data transformation itself and is present even in the absence of any unobserved heterogeneity. We suggest an alternative, computationally very simple, adjusted first-differences estimator that cures the data-transformation driven bias of the classical estimators. The theoretical line of argument is supported by evidence from Monte Carlo simulations and is illustrated by an empirical application.

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How to cite

APA:

Tauchmann, H. (2019). Fixed-Effects estimation of the Linear Discrete-Time Hazard Model: an Adjusted First-Differences Estimator.

MLA:

Tauchmann, Harald. Fixed-Effects estimation of the Linear Discrete-Time Hazard Model: an Adjusted First-Differences Estimator. 2019.

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