Specification tests for the propensity score

Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C. and Xiaojun Song
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Pedro H. C. Sant'Anna ()

Journal of Econometrics, 2019, vol. 210, issue 2, 379-404

Abstract: This paper proposes new nonparametric diagnostic tools to assess the asymptotic validity of different treatment effects estimators that rely on the correct specification of the propensity score. We derive a particular restriction relating the propensity score distribution of treated and control groups, and develop specification tests based upon it. The resulting tests do not suffer from the “curse of dimensionality” when the vector of covariates is high-dimensional, are fully data-driven, do not require tuning parameters such as bandwidths, and are able to detect a broad class of local alternatives converging to the null at the parametric rate n−1∕2, with n the sample size. We show that the use of an orthogonal projection on the tangent space of nuisance parameters facilitates the simulation of critical values by means of a multiplier bootstrap procedure, and can lead to power gains. The finite sample performance of the tests is examined by means of a Monte Carlo experiment and an empirical application. Open-source software is available for implementing the proposed tests.

Keywords: Empirical processes; Integrated moments; Multiplier bootstrap; Projection; Treatment effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C12 C31 C35 C52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Working Paper: Specification Tests for the Propensity Score (2019)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:econom:v:210:y:2019:i:2:p:379-404

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconom.2019.02.002

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