This article evaluates the performance of structural equation models in validating measurement models for hypothetical constructs and deals with specific issues following from the way this methodology is typically applied in scale construction. In particular, controlling for various types of...

Many researchers seem to be unsure about how to specify formative measurement models in software programs like LISREL or AMOS and to establish identification of the corresponding structural equation model. In order to make identification easier, a new, mainly graphically-oriented approach is...

This paper analyzes multifactor models in the presence of a large number of potential observable risk factors and unobservable common and group-specific pervasive factors. We show how relevant observable factors can be found from a large given set and how to determine the number of common and...

We examine the impact of the EUR 5 billion German Cash-for-Clunkers program on vehicle registrations and respective CO2 emissions. To construct proper counterfactuals, we develop the multivariate synthetic control method using time series of economic predictors (MSCMT) and show (asymptotic)...

In this paper sensitivity analysis between Lagrange multipliers and total budget is discussed. The method of Lagrange multipliers is a very useful and powerful technique in multivariable calculus. In mathematical economics, utility is the vital concept that increases or decreases overall...

This paper offers two innovations for empirical growth research. First, the paper discusses principal components augmented regressions to take into account all available information in well-behaved regressions. Second, the paper proposes a frequentist model averaging framework as an alternative...

This paper uses the adaptive LASSO estimator to determine the variables important for economic growth. The adaptive LASSO estimator is a computationally very simple procedure that performs at the same time both consistent parameter estimation and model selection. The methodology is applied to...

This paper examines the identifiability of the standard single-equation stochastic frontier models with uncorrelated and correlated error components giving, inter alia, mathematical content to the notion of “near-identifiability” of a statistical model. It is seen that these models are at...

This paper compares the predictive ability of the factor models of Stock and Watson (2002) and Forni, Hallin, Lippi, and Reichlin (2005) using a large panel of US macroeconomic variables. We propose a nesting procedure of comparison that clarifies and partially overturns the results of similar...

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new model selection mechanism for cross sectional spatial models. This method is more flexible than the approach proposed by Florax et al. (2003) since it controls for spatial dependence as well as for spatial heterogeneity. In particular, Bayesian and...