Improved inference for nonparametric regression and regression-discontinuity designs

Giuseppe Cavaliere, S\'ilvia Gon\c{c}alves, Morten Nielsen and Edoardo Zanelli

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Abstract: Nonparametric regression and regression-discontinuity designs suffer from smoothing bias that distorts conventional confidence intervals. Solutions based on robust bias correction (RBC) are now central to the economist's toolbox. In this paper, we establish a novel connection between RBC methods and bootstrap prepivoting. Revisiting RBC through the lens of bootstrapping allows us to develop a novel bias correction procedure which delivers improved nonparametric inference. The resulting confidence intervals are 17% shorter than the usual intervals employed in curve estimation and regression discontinuity designs, without compromising asymptotic coverage. This holds regardless of evaluation point location, bandwidth choice, or regressor and error distribution.

Date: 2025-11, Revised 2026-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ecm
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