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IDENTIFICATION AND STATISTICAL DECISION THEORY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2024

Charles F. Manski Open the ORCID record for Charles F. Manski [Opens in a new window]
Charles F. Manski*
Affiliation:
Northwestern University
*
Address correspondence to Charles F. Manski, Department of Economics and Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; e-mail: [email protected].
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Abstract

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Econometricians have usefully separated study of estimation into identification and statistical components. Identification analysis, which assumes knowledge of the probability distribution generating observable data, places an upper bound on what may be learned about population parameters of interest with finite-sample data. Yet Wald’s statistical decision theory studies decision-making with sample data without reference to identification, indeed without reference to estimation. This paper asks if identification analysis is useful to statistical decision theory. The answer is positive, as it can yield an informative and tractable upper bound on the achievable finite-sample performance of decision criteria. The reasoning is simple when the decision-relevant parameter (true state of nature) is point-identified. It is more delicate when the true state is partially identified and a decision must be made under ambiguity. Then the performance of some criteria, such as minimax regret, is enhanced by randomizing choice of an action in a controlled manner. I find it useful to recast choice of a statistical decision function as selection of choice probabilities for the elements of the choice set.

Type
ARTICLES
Information
Econometric Theory , First View , pp. 1 - 17
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

Footnotes

I am grateful for the constructive comments of the editor and several reviewers.

References

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