Two Estimation Methods for a Lifetime Discrete Choice Model Under Uncertainty

Zvi Eckstein () and Kenneth Wolpin

No 275381, Foerder Institute for Economic Research Working Papers from Tel-Aviv University > Foerder Institute for Economic Research

Abstract: This paper formulates explicitly a life—time optimization problem that a person faces at each period t and suggests two methods of estimating the underlying parameters of the preferences and the constraints. We focus on one discrete choice variable such as fertility, schooling and labor—force participation. An example for each model is provided where the current decision depends on fast choice variables. In order to estimate this type of a model it is necessary to solve for the state dependent conditional probabilities for the discrete choice at each t. Two ways for calculating these conditional probabilities are provided. The first is calculated from the full solution for the dynamic programming problem. The second is found by using some necessary conditions for the optimal solution of the individual. We compare the two methods by a Monte—Carlo example using the fertility model. The full solution metnod is used as the "true" model and the other method generates acceptable values for the parameters and the likelihood function.

Keywords: Financial; Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 39
Date: 1984-09
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/275381/files/TEL-AVIV-FSWP-061.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:isfiwp:275381

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.275381

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Foerder Institute for Economic Research Working Papers from Tel-Aviv University > Foerder Institute for Economic Research Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by AgEcon Search ().