Joint analysis of the discount factor and payoff parameters in dynamic discrete choice models

Most empirical and theoretical econometric studies of dynamic discrete choice models assume the discount factor to be known. We show the knowledge of the discount factor is not necessary to identify parts, or even all, of the payoff function. We show the discount factor can be generically identified...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Komarova, Tatiana, Silva Junior, Daniel, Srisuma, Sorawoot, FABIO ADRIANO MIESSI SANCHES
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:Brasil
Institución:Instituição de Ensino Superior e de Pesquisa (INSPER)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da INSPER
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.insper.edu.br:11224/4708
Acceso en línea:https://repositorio.insper.edu.br/handle/11224/4708
https://doi.org/10.3982/QE675
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Discount factor
Dynamic discrete choice problem
Identification
Estimation
Switching costs
Descripción
Sumario:Most empirical and theoretical econometric studies of dynamic discrete choice models assume the discount factor to be known. We show the knowledge of the discount factor is not necessary to identify parts, or even all, of the payoff function. We show the discount factor can be generically identified jointly with the payoff parameters. On the other hand, it is known the payoff function cannot be nonparametrically identified without any a priori restrictions. Our identification of the discount factor is robust to any normalization choice on the payoff parameters. In IO applications, normalizations are usually made on switching costs, such as entry costs and scrap values.We also showthat switching costs can be nonparametrically identified, in closed-form, independently of the discount factor and other parts of the payoff function. Our identification strategies are constructive. They lead to easy to compute estimands that are global solutions. We illustrate with aMonte Carlo study and the dataset used in Ryan (2012).