MCMC Methods for Fitting and Comparing Multinomial Response Models

This paper is concerned with statistical inference in multinomial probit, multinomial-$t$ and multinomial logit models. New Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms for fitting these models are introduced and compared with existing MCMC methods. The question of parameter identification in the multinomial probit model is readdressed. Model comparison issues are also discussed and the method of Chib (1995) is utilized to find Bayes factors for competing multinomial probit and multinomial logit models. The methods and ideas are illustrated in detail with an example.