Representation Multiplicity in Causal Forests

Yi Niu

Papers from arXiv.org

Abstract: Including covariates alongside strictly monotone encodings can change a causal forest's treatment decisions without adding information. Random feature selection favors covariates represented by multiple columns. Under stated conditions, I show that this imbalance can persist as samples grow. Treatment effect components associated with other covariates are omitted, attenuated, or recovered depending on their inclusion probabilities and tree depth. Simulations and a job-training replication illustrate sensitivity to redundant encodings. Sampling groups of variables that generate identical splits restores prediction invariance on the grouping data when fitting and randomization are held fixed.

Date: 2026-09
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