We give a straightforward condition sufficient for determining the minimum asymptotic variance estimator in certain classes of estimators relevant to econometrics. These classes are relatively broad, as they include extremum estimation with smooth or nonsmooth objective functions; also, the rate...

We present a general theory of consistent estimation for possibly misspecified parametric models based on recent results of Domowitz and White. This theory extends the unification of Burguete, Gallant, and Souza by allowing for heterogeneous, time-dependent data and dynamic models. The theory is...

In Perez-Amaral, Gallo, and White (2003), the authors proposed an automatic predictive modelling tool called Relevant Transformation of the Inputs Network Approach (RETINA). It is designed to embody flexibility (using nonlinear transformations of the predictors of interest), selective search...

A new method, called relevant transformation of the inputs network approach (RETINA) is proposed as a tool for model building and selection. It is designed to improve on some of the shortcomings of neural networks. RETINA has the flexibility of neural network models, the concavity of the...

A new method, called relevant transformation of the inputs network approach (RETINA) is proposed as a tool for model building and selection. It is designed to improve some of the shortcomings of neural networks. It has the flexibility of neural network models, the concavity of the likelihood in...

This paper proposes a nonparametric test for conditional independence that is easy to implement, yet powerful in the sense that it is consistent and achieves root-n local power. The test statistic is based on an estimator of the topological "distance" between restricted and unrestricted...

We apply a new bootstrap statistical technique to examine the performance of the U.S. openend, domestic-equity mutual fund industry over the 1975 to 2002 period. Specifically, we bootstrap the joint distribution of performance measures (\alphas) across all funds to determine whether managers of...