Bayesian Inference for Logistic Models Using Pólya--Gamma Latent Variables

Nicholas G. Polson, James G. Scott and Jesse Windle

Journal of the American Statistical Association, 2013, vol. 108, issue 504, 1339-1349

Abstract: We propose a new data-augmentation strategy for fully Bayesian inference in models with binomial likelihoods. The approach appeals to a new class of Pólya--Gamma distributions, which are constructed in detail. A variety of examples are presented to show the versatility of the method, including logistic regression, negative binomial regression, nonlinear mixed-effect models, and spatial models for count data. In each case, our data-augmentation strategy leads to simple, effective methods for posterior inference that (1) circumvent the need for analytic approximations, numerical integration, or Metropolis--Hastings; and (2) outperform other known data-augmentation strategies, both in ease of use and in computational efficiency. All methods, including an efficient sampler for the Pólya--Gamma distribution, are implemented in the R package BayesLogit . Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (89)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:jnlasa:v:108:y:2013:i:504:p:1339-1349

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DOI: 10.1080/01621459.2013.829001

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