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Estimation of Discrete Choice Dynamic Programming Models

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Abstract

This study reviews estimation methods for the infinite horizon discrete choice dynamic programming models and conducts Monte Carlo experiments. We consider: the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), the two-step conditional choice probabilities estimator, sequential estimators based on policy iterations mapping under finite dependence, and sequential estimators based on value iteration mappings. Our simulation result shows that the estimation performance of the sequential estimators based on policy iterations and value iteration mappings is largely comparable to the MLE, while they achieve substantial computation gains over the MLE by a factor of 100 for a model with a moderately large state space.

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Kasahara, H., Shimotsu, K. Estimation of Discrete Choice Dynamic Programming Models. JER 69, 28–58 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1111/jere.12169

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