pwc-archive/papers-with-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Economic and Policy Uncertainties and Firm Value: The Case of Consumer Durable Goods
Authors: Bahram Adrangi, Saman Hatamerad, Madhuparna Kolay, Kambiz Raffiee
Date: 2025-06-09 00:00:00

The objective of this study is to analyze the response of firm value, represented by the Tobin's Q (Q) for a group of twelve U.S. durable goods producers to uncertainties in the US Economy. The results, based on an estimated panel quantile regressions (PQR) and panel vector autoregressive MIDAS model (PVM), show that Q for these firms reacts negatively to the positive shocks to the current ratio, and debt-to-asset ratio and positively to operating income after depreciation and the quick ratio in most quantiles. The Q of the firms under study reacts negatively to the economic policy uncertainty, risk of recession, and inflationary expectation, but positively to consumer confidence in most quantiles of its distribution. Finally, Granger causality tests confirm that the uncertainty indicators considered in the study are significant predictors of changes in the value of these companies as reflected by Q.
Does Residuals-on-Residuals Regression Produce Representative Estimates of Causal Effects?
Authors: Apoorva Lal, Winston Chou
Date: 2025-06-09 00:00:00

Double Machine Learning is commonly used to estimate causal effects in large observational datasets. The "residuals-on-residuals" regression estimator (RORR) is especially popular for its simplicity and computational tractability. However, when treatment effects are heterogeneous, the proper interpretation of RORR may not be well understood. We show that, for many-valued treatments with continuous dose-response functions, RORR converges to a conditional variance-weighted average of derivatives evaluated at points not in the observed dataset, which generally differs from the Average Causal Derivative (ACD). Hence, even if all units share the same dose-response function, RORR does not in general converge to an average treatment effect in the population represented by the sample. We propose an alternative estimator suitable for large datasets. We demonstrate the pitfalls of RORR and the favorable properties of the proposed estimator in both an illustrative numerical example and an application to real-world data from Netflix.
Quantile-Optimal Policy Learning under Unmeasured Confounding
Authors: Zhongren Chen, Siyu Chen, Zhengling Qi, Xiaohong Chen, Zhuoran Yang
Date: 2025-06-08 00:00:00
Tasks: Causal Inference

We study quantile-optimal policy learning where the goal is to find a policy whose reward distribution has the largest $\alpha$-quantile for some $\alpha \in (0, 1)$. We focus on the offline setting whose generating process involves unobserved confounders. Such a problem suffers from three main challenges: (i) nonlinearity of the quantile objective as a functional of the reward distribution, (ii) unobserved confounding issue, and (iii) insufficient coverage of the offline dataset. To address these challenges, we propose a suite of causal-assisted policy learning methods that provably enjoy strong theoretical guarantees under mild conditions. In particular, to address (i) and (ii), using causal inference tools such as instrumental variables and negative controls, we propose to estimate the quantile objectives by solving nonlinear functional integral equations. Then we adopt a minimax estimation approach with nonparametric models to solve these integral equations, and propose to construct conservative policy estimates that address (iii). The final policy is the one that maximizes these pessimistic estimates. In addition, we propose a novel regularized policy learning method that is more amenable to computation. Finally, we prove that the policies learned by these methods are $\tilde{\mathscr{O}}(n^{-1/2})$ quantile-optimal under a mild coverage assumption on the offline dataset. Here, $\tilde{\mathscr{O}}(\cdot)$ omits poly-logarithmic factors. To the best of our knowledge, we propose the first sample-efficient policy learning algorithms for estimating the quantile-optimal policy when there exist unmeasured confounding.
Inference in Unbalanced Panel Data Models with Interactive Fixed Effects
Authors: Daniel Czarnowske, Amrei Stammann
Date: 2020-04-07 00:00:00

We derive the asymptotic theory of Bai (2009)'s interactive fixed effects estimator in unbalanced panels where the source of attrition is conditionally random. For inference, we propose a method of alternating projections algorithm based on straightforward scalar expressions to compute the residualized variables required for the estimation of the bias terms and the covariance matrix. Simulation experiments confirm our asymptotic results as reliable finite sample approximations. Furthermore, we reassess Acemoglu et al. (2019). Allowing for a more general form of unobserved heterogeneity, we confirm significant effects of democratization on growth.
On Efficient Estimation of Distributional Treatment Effects under Covariate-Adaptive Randomization
Authors: Undral Byambadalai, Tomu Hirata, Tatsushi Oka, Shota Yasui
Date: 2025-06-06 00:00:00
Tasks: regression, valid

This paper focuses on the estimation of distributional treatment effects in randomized experiments that use covariate-adaptive randomization (CAR). These include designs such as Efron's biased-coin design and stratified block randomization, where participants are first grouped into strata based on baseline covariates and assigned treatments within each stratum to ensure balance across groups. In practice, datasets often contain additional covariates beyond the strata indicators. We propose a flexible distribution regression framework that leverages off-the-shelf machine learning methods to incorporate these additional covariates, enhancing the precision of distributional treatment effect estimates. We establish the asymptotic distribution of the proposed estimator and introduce a valid inference procedure. Furthermore, we derive the semiparametric efficiency bound for distributional treatment effects under CAR and demonstrate that our regression-adjusted estimator attains this bound. Simulation studies and empirical analyses of microcredit programs highlight the practical advantages of our method.
Enhancing the Merger Simulation Toolkit with ML/AI
Authors: Harold D. Chiang, Jack Collison, Lorenzo Magnolfi, Christopher Sullivan
Date: 2025-06-05 00:00:00
Tasks: counterfactual

This paper develops a flexible approach to predict the price effects of horizontal mergers using ML/AI methods. While standard merger simulation techniques rely on restrictive assumptions about firm conduct, we propose a data-driven framework that relaxes these constraints when rich market data are available. We develop and identify a flexible nonparametric model of supply that nests a broad range of conduct models and cost functions. To overcome the curse of dimensionality, we adapt the Variational Method of Moments (VMM) (Bennett and Kallus, 2023) to estimate the model, allowing for various forms of strategic interaction. Monte Carlo simulations show that our method significantly outperforms an array of misspecified models and rivals the performance of the true model, both in predictive performance and counterfactual merger simulations. As a way to interpret the economics of the estimated function, we simulate pass-through and reveal that the model learns markup and cost functions that imply approximately correct pass-through behavior. Applied to the American Airlines-US Airways merger, our method produces more accurate post-merger price predictions than traditional approaches. The results demonstrate the potential for machine learning techniques to enhance merger analysis while maintaining economic structure.
Power-boosting in Specification Tests using Kernel Directional Component
Authors: Cui Rui, Li Yuhao, Song Xiaojun
Date: 2025-06-05 00:00:00

We propose power-boosting strategies for kernel-based specification tests in conditional moment models, with a focus on the Kernel Conditional Moment (KCM) test. By decomposing the KCM statistic into spectral components, we demonstrate that truncating poorly estimated directions and selecting kernels based on a non-asymptotic signal-to-noise ratio significantly improves both test power and size control. Our theoretical and simulation results demonstrate that, while divergent component weights may offer higher asymptotic power, convergent component weights perform better in finite samples. The methods outperform existing tests across various settings and are illustrated in an empirical application.
Latent Variable Autoregression with Exogenous Inputs
Authors: Daniil Bargman
Date: 2025-06-04 00:00:00
Tasks: regression

This paper introduces a new least squares regression methodology called (C)LARX: a (constrained) latent variable autoregressive model with exogenous inputs. Two additional contributions are made as a side effect: First, a new matrix operator is introduced for matrices and vectors with blocks along one dimension; Second, a new latent variable regression (LVR) framework is proposed for economics and finance. The empirical section examines how well the stock market predicts real economic activity in the United States. (C)LARX models outperform the baseline OLS specification in out-of-sample forecasts and offer novel analytical insights about the underlying functional relationship.
What Makes Treatment Effects Identifiable? Characterizations and Estimators Beyond Unconfoundedness
Authors: Yang Cai, Alkis Kalavasis, Katerina Mamali, Anay Mehrotra, Manolis Zampetakis
Date: 2025-06-04 00:00:00
Tasks: Causal Inference, Learning Theory

Most of the widely used estimators of the average treatment effect (ATE) in causal inference rely on the assumptions of unconfoundedness and overlap. Unconfoundedness requires that the observed covariates account for all correlations between the outcome and treatment. Overlap requires the existence of randomness in treatment decisions for all individuals. Nevertheless, many types of studies frequently violate unconfoundedness or overlap, for instance, observational studies with deterministic treatment decisions -- popularly known as Regression Discontinuity designs -- violate overlap. In this paper, we initiate the study of general conditions that enable the identification of the average treatment effect, extending beyond unconfoundedness and overlap. In particular, following the paradigm of statistical learning theory, we provide an interpretable condition that is sufficient and nearly necessary for the identification of ATE. Moreover, this condition characterizes the identification of the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) and can be used to characterize other treatment effects as well. To illustrate the utility of our condition, we present several well-studied scenarios where our condition is satisfied and, hence, we prove that ATE can be identified in regimes that prior works could not capture. For example, under mild assumptions on the data distributions, this holds for the models proposed by Tan (2006) and Rosenbaum (2002), and the Regression Discontinuity design model introduced by Thistlethwaite and Campbell (1960). For each of these scenarios, we also show that, under natural additional assumptions, ATE can be estimated from finite samples. We believe these findings open new avenues for bridging learning-theoretic insights and causal inference methodologies, particularly in observational studies with complex treatment mechanisms.
Combine and conquer: model averaging for out-of-distribution forecasting
Authors: Stephane Hess, Sander van Cranenburgh
Date: 2025-06-04 00:00:00

Travel behaviour modellers have an increasingly diverse set of models at their disposal, ranging from traditional econometric structures to models from mathematical psychology and data-driven approaches from machine learning. A key question arises as to how well these different models perform in prediction, especially when considering trips of different characteristics from those used in estimation, i.e. out-of-distribution prediction, and whether better predictions can be obtained by combining insights from the different models. Across two case studies, we show that while data-driven approaches excel in predicting mode choice for trips within the distance bands used in estimation, beyond that range, the picture is fuzzy. To leverage the relative advantages of the different model families and capitalise on the notion that multiple `weak' models can result in more robust models, we put forward the use of a model averaging approach that allocates weights to different model families as a function of the \emph{distance} between the characteristics of the trip for which predictions are made, and those used in model estimation. Overall, we see that the model averaging approach gives larger weight to models with stronger behavioural or econometric underpinnings the more we move outside the interval of trip distances covered in estimation. Across both case studies, we show that our model averaging approach obtains improved performance both on the estimation and validation data, and crucially also when predicting mode choices for trips of distances outside the range used in estimation.
Deep Learning Enhanced Multivariate GARCH
Authors: Haoyuan Wang, Chen Liu, Minh-Ngoc Tran, Chao Wang
Date: 2025-06-03 00:00:00
Tasks: Deep Learning

This paper introduces a novel multivariate volatility modeling framework, named Long Short-Term Memory enhanced BEKK (LSTM-BEKK), that integrates deep learning into multivariate GARCH processes. By combining the flexibility of recurrent neural networks with the econometric structure of BEKK models, our approach is designed to better capture nonlinear, dynamic, and high-dimensional dependence structures in financial return data. The proposed model addresses key limitations of traditional multivariate GARCH-based methods, particularly in capturing persistent volatility clustering and asymmetric co-movement across assets. Leveraging the data-driven nature of LSTMs, the framework adapts effectively to time-varying market conditions, offering improved robustness and forecasting performance. Empirical results across multiple equity markets confirm that the LSTM-BEKK model achieves superior performance in terms of out-of-sample portfolio risk forecast, while maintaining the interpretability from the BEKK models. These findings highlight the potential of hybrid econometric-deep learning models in advancing financial risk management and multivariate volatility forecasting.
Orthogonality-Constrained Deep Instrumental Variable Model for Causal Effect Estimation
Authors: Shunxin Yao
Date: 2025-06-03 00:00:00

OC-DeepIV is a neural network model designed for estimating causal effects. It characterizes heterogeneity by adding interaction features and reduces redundancy through orthogonal constraints. The model includes two feature extractors, one for the instrumental variable Z and the other for the covariate X*. The training process is divided into two stages: the first stage uses the mean squared error (MSE) loss function, and the second stage incorporates orthogonal regularization. Experimental results show that this model outperforms DeepIV and DML in terms of accuracy and stability. Future research directions include applying the model to real-world problems and handling scenarios with multiple processing variables.
Get me out of this hole: a profile likelihood approach to identifying and avoiding inferior local optima in choice models
Authors: Stephane Hess, David Bunch, Andrew Daly
Date: 2025-06-03 00:00:00

Choice modellers routinely acknowledge the risk of convergence to inferior local optima when using structures other than a simple linear-in-parameters logit model. At the same time, there is no consensus on appropriate mechanisms for addressing this issue. Most analysts seem to ignore the problem, while others try a set of different starting values, or put their faith in what they believe to be more robust estimation approaches. This paper puts forward the use of a profile likelihood approach that systematically analyses the parameter space around an initial maximum likelihood estimate and tests for the existence of better local optima in that space. We extend this to an iterative algorithm which then progressively searches for the best local optimum under given settings for the algorithm. Using a well known stated choice dataset, we show how the approach identifies better local optima for both latent class and mixed logit, with the potential for substantially different policy implications. In the case studies we conduct, an added benefit of the approach is that the new solutions exhibit properties that more closely adhere to the property of asymptotic normality, also highlighting the benefits of the approach in analysing the statistical properties of a solution.
Analysis of Multiple Long Run Relations in Panel Data Models with Applications to Financial Ratios
Authors: Alexander Chudik, M. Hashem Pesaran, Ron P. Smith
Date: 2025-06-02 00:00:00

This paper provides a new methodology for the analysis of multiple long run relations in panel data models where the cross section dimension, $n$, is large relative to the time series dimension, $T$. For panel data models with large $n$ researchers have focused on panels with a single long run relationship. The main difficulty has been to eliminate short run dynamics without generating significant uncertainty for identification of the long run. We overcome this problem by using non-overlapping sub-sample time averages as deviations from their full-sample counterpart and estimating the number of long run relations and their coefficients using eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the pooled covariance matrix of these sub-sample deviations. We refer to this procedure as pooled minimum eigenvalue (PME) and show that it applies to unbalanced panels generated from general linear processes with interactive stationary time effects and does not require knowing long run causal linkages. To our knowledge, no other estimation procedure exists for this setting. We show the PME estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal as $n$ and $T \rightarrow \infty$ jointly, such that $T\approx n^{d}$, with $d>0$ for consistency and $d>1/2$ for asymptotic normality. Extensive Monte Carlo studies show that the number of long run relations can be estimated with high precision and the PME estimates of the long run coefficients show small bias and RMSE and have good size and power properties. The utility of our approach is illustrated with an application to key financial variables using an unbalanced panel of US firms from merged CRSP-Compustat data set covering 2,000 plus firms over the period 1950-2021.
Stock Market Telepathy: Graph Neural Networks Predicting the Secret Conversations between MINT and G7 Countries
Authors: Nurbanu Bursa
Date: 2025-06-02 00:00:00
Tasks: Graph Neural Network, Multivariate Time Series Forecasting, Time Series, Time Series Forecasting

Emerging economies, particularly the MINT countries (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and T\"urkiye), are gaining influence in global stock markets, although they remain susceptible to the economic conditions of developed countries like the G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States). This interconnectedness and sensitivity of financial markets make understanding these relationships crucial for investors and policymakers to predict stock price movements accurately. To this end, we examined the main stock market indices of G7 and MINT countries from 2012 to 2024, using a recent graph neural network (GNN) algorithm called multivariate time series forecasting with graph neural network (MTGNN). This method allows for considering complex spatio-temporal connections in multivariate time series. In the implementations, MTGNN revealed that the US and Canada are the most influential G7 countries regarding stock indices in the forecasting process, and Indonesia and T\"urkiye are the most influential MINT countries. Additionally, our results showed that MTGNN outperformed traditional methods in forecasting the prices of stock market indices for MINT and G7 countries. Consequently, the study offers valuable insights into economic blocks' markets and presents a compelling empirical approach to analyzing global stock market dynamics using MTGNN.
Life Sequence Transformer: Generative Modelling for Counterfactual Simulation
Authors: Alberto Cabezas, Carlotta Montorsi
Date: 2025-06-02 00:00:00
Tasks: counterfactual

Social sciences rely on counterfactual analysis using surveys and administrative data, generally depending on strong assumptions or the existence of suitable control groups, to evaluate policy interventions and estimate causal effects. We propose a novel approach that leverages the Transformer architecture to simulate counterfactual life trajectories from large-scale administrative records. Our contributions are: the design of a novel encoding method that transforms longitudinal administrative data to sequences and the proposal of a generative model tailored to life sequences with overlapping events across life domains. We test our method using data from the Istituto Nazionale di Previdenza Sociale (INPS), showing that it enables the realistic and coherent generation of life trajectories. This framework offers a scalable alternative to classical counterfactual identification strategy, such as difference-in-differences and synthetic controls, particularly in contexts where these methods are infeasible or their assumptions unverifiable. We validate the model's utility by comparing generated life trajectories against established findings from causal studies, demonstrating its potential to enrich labour market research and policy evaluation through individual-level simulations.
Large Bayesian VARs for Binary and Censored Variables
Authors: Joshua C. C. Chan, Michael Pfarrhofer
Date: 2025-06-02 00:00:00

We extend the standard VAR to jointly model the dynamics of binary, censored and continuous variables, and develop an efficient estimation approach that scales well to high-dimensional settings. In an out-of-sample forecasting exercise, we show that the proposed VARs forecast recessions and short-term interest rates well. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed framework using a wide rage of empirical applications, including conditional forecasting and a structural analysis that examines the dynamic effects of a financial shock on recession probabilities.
Can AI Master Econometrics? Evidence from Econometrics AI Agent on Expert-Level Tasks
Authors: Qiang Chen, Tianyang Han, Jin Li, Ye Luo, Yuxiao Wu, Xiaowei Zhang, Tuo Zhou
Date: 2025-06-01 00:00:00
Tasks: AI Agent, Econometrics

Can AI effectively perform complex econometric analysis traditionally requiring human expertise? This paper evaluates AI agents' capability to master econometrics, focusing on empirical analysis performance. We develop an ``Econometrics AI Agent'' built on the open-source MetaGPT framework. This agent exhibits outstanding performance in: (1) planning econometric tasks strategically, (2) generating and executing code, (3) employing error-based reflection for improved robustness, and (4) allowing iterative refinement through multi-round conversations. We construct two datasets from academic coursework materials and published research papers to evaluate performance against real-world challenges. Comparative testing shows our domain-specialized AI agent significantly outperforms both benchmark large language models (LLMs) and general-purpose AI agents. This work establishes a testbed for exploring AI's impact on social science research and enables cost-effective integration of domain expertise, making advanced econometric methods accessible to users with minimal coding skills. Furthermore, our AI agent enhances research reproducibility and offers promising pedagogical applications for econometrics teaching.