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arXiv · 2505.03133

Metacountregressor: A python package for extensive analysis and assisted estimation of count data models

Zeke Ahern·Paul Corry·Alexander Paz
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Abstract

{Analyzing and modeling rare events in count data presents significant challenges due to the scarcity of observations and the complexity of underlying processes, which are often overlooked by analysts due to limitations in time, resources, knowledge, and the influence of biases. This paper introduces MetaCountRegressor, a Python package designed to facilitate predictive count modeling of rare events guided by metaheuristics. The MetaCountRegressor package offers a wide range of functionalities specifically tailored for the unique characteristics of rare event prediction. This package offers a collection of metaheuristic algorithms that efficiently explore the solution space, facilitating effective optimisation and parameter tuning. These algorithms are specifically engineered to deal with the inherent challenges of modeling rare events for predictive purposes, and capturing causative effects that are easily interpretable. State-of-the-art models are produced by the decision-based optimization framework. This includes the ability to capture unobserved heterogeneity through random parameters and allows for correlated and grouped random parameters. It also supports a range of distributions for the random parameters, and can capture heterogeneity in the means. The package also supports panel data, among other features, and serves as a systematic framework for analysts to discover optimization-driven results, saving time, reducing biases, and minimizing the need for extensive prior knowledge.

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Zeke Ahern, Paul Corry, Alexander Paz. 2025-05-06. Metacountregressor: A python package for extensive analysis and assisted estimation of count data models. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2026.101969

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