Robust linear static panel data models using ε-contamination
The
paper develops a general Bayesian framework for robust linear static panel data
models using ε-contamination. A two-step approach is employed to derive the
conditional type-II maximum likelihood (ML-II) posterior distribution of the
coefficients and individual effects.The ML-II posterior densities are weighted
averages of the Bayes estimator under a base prior and the data-dependent
empirical Bayes estimator. Two-stage and three stage hierarchy estimators are
developed and their finite sample performance is investigated through a series
of Monte Carlo experiments. These include standard random effects as well as Mundlak-type,
Chamberlain-type and Hausman-Taylor-type models. The simulation results underscore
the relatively good performance of the three-stage hierarchy estimator. Within
a single theoretical framework, our Bayesian approach encompasses a variety of
specications while conventional methods require separate estimators for each
case. We illustrate the performance of our estimator relative to classic panel
estimators using data on earnings and crime.
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