Search arXivSearch

arXiv · 2109.13606

bqror: An R package for Bayesian Quantile Regression in Ordinal Models

Abstract

This article describes an R package bqror that estimates Bayesian quantile regression for ordinal models introduced in Rahman (2016). The paper classifies ordinal models into two types and offers computationally efficient, yet simple, Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms for estimating ordinal quantile regression. The generic ordinal model with 3 or more outcomes (labeled ORI model) is estimated by a combination of Gibbs sampling and Metropolis-Hastings algorithm. Whereas an ordinal model with exactly 3 outcomes (labeled ORII model) is estimated using Gibbs sampling only. In line with the Bayesian literature, we suggest using marginal likelihood for comparing alternative quantile regression models and explain how to compute the same. The models and their estimation procedures are illustrated via multiple simulation studies and implemented in two applications. The article also describes several other functions contained within the bqror package, which are necessary for estimation, inference, and assessing model fit.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Prajual Maheshwari, Mohammad Arshad Rahman. 2023-05-27. bqror: An R package for Bayesian Quantile Regression in Ordinal Models. https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.13606

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Testing for Monotone Equilibrium Strategies in Games of Incomplete Information

This paper develops a unified framework for testing monotonicity of Bayesian Nash equilibrium strategies in unobserved types in games of incomplete information. We show that, under symmetric independent private types, monotonicity of differentiable equilibrium strategies is equivalent to monotonicity of a quasi-inverse strategy identified from observed actions. This allows the problem to be reformulated as testing a countable set of moment inequalities involving unconditional expectations. We propose a Cramer-von Mises-type statistic with bootstrap critical values. The method accommodates covariates and game heterogeneity. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate finite-sample performance, and an application to procurement auctions illustrates cartel detection.

econ.EM

Ordinal Distributional Change and Conservative Transition Benchmarks: Measurement, Identification, and Inference

Repeated cross-sections reveal changes in ordinal distributions but not the transitions producing them. I axiomatically characterize a threshold-weighted probability metric for ordinal change from threshold-crossing principles. For any threshold-additive ordinal geometry, the discrepancy coincides with the Wasserstein--1 distance induced by that ground metric and measures minimum displacement; its optimizing plans define conservative transition benchmarks. With missing outcomes, I derive sharp identified sets for the discrepancy and endpoint-conditioned benchmark plans. I develop finite-sample-valid projection inference using randomized Monte Carlo calibration and global search with an almost-sure convergence guarantee. Applied to Arab Barometer data, the framework documents a robust shift toward broader and more regular remittance receipt in Lebanon. The discrepancy interval remains well separated from zero after allowing for item nonresponse and sampling uncertainty, while benchmark bounds provide strong numerical evidence that least-displacement restructuring excludes movement toward less frequent receipt and requires reassignment from nonreceipt to recurrent receipt.

econ.EM

A Stochastic Nested Fixed Point Algorithm for Large-Scale BLP Estimation

We develop a stochastic nested fixed point (SNFP) estimator for random coefficients logit demand models that updates model parameters using stochastic gradients and performs demand inversion one market at a time. Relative to the conventional nested fixed point (NFP) estimator, SNFP substantially reduces memory requirements and computational cost, making estimation feasible in very large datasets. We establish the large-$T$ (number of markets) asymptotic properties of the estimator under regularity conditions. We also characterize the effect of sharing one block of simulation draws across markets and show how to correct for it. Monte Carlo simulations show that the SNFP estimator achieves statistical accuracy comparable to the NFP estimator, and in our benchmark a single online pass estimates a model with 100 million markets in about 5.5 hours. An empirical application using scanner data further demonstrates the practical advantages of SNFP for large-scale demand estimation.

econ.EM