Using the Penalized Likelihood Method for Model Selection with Nuisance Parameters Present only under the Alternative: An Application to Switching Regression Models

We study the problem of model selection with nuisance parameters present only under the alternative. The common approach for testing in this case is to determine the true model through the use of some functionals over the nuisance parameters space. Since in such cases the distribution of these statistics is not known, critical values had to be approximated usually through computationally intensive simulations. Furthermore, the computed critical values are data and model dependent and hence cannot be tabulated. We address this problem by using the penalized likelihood method to choose the correct model. We start by viewing the likelihood ratio as a function of the unidentified parameters. By using the empirical process theory and the uniform law of the iterated logarithm (LIL) together with sufficient conditions on the penalty term, we derive the consistency properties of this method. Our approach generates a simple and consistent procedure for model selection. This methodology is presented in the context of switching regression models. We also provide some Monte Carlo simulations to analyze the finite sample performance of our procedure. Copyright 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.