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Fast and Reliable Jackknife and Bootstrap Methods for Cluster-Robust Inference

Author

Listed:
  • James G. MacKinnon

    (Queen's University)

  • Morten Ørregaard Nielsen

    (Aarhus University)

  • Matthew D. Webb

    (Carleton University)

Abstract

We provide computationally attractive methods to obtain jackknife-based cluster-robust variance matrix estimators (CRVEs) for linear regression models estimated by least squares. We also propose several new variants of the wild cluster bootstrap, which involve these CRVEs, jackknife-based bootstrap data-generating processes, or both. Extensive simulation experiments suggest that the new methods can provide much more reliable inferences than existing ones in cases where the latter are not trustworthy, such as when the number of clusters is small and/or cluster sizes vary substantially. Three empirical examples illustrate the new methods.

Suggested Citation

  • James G. MacKinnon & Morten Ørregaard Nielsen & Matthew D. Webb, 2022. "Fast and Reliable Jackknife and Bootstrap Methods for Cluster-Robust Inference," Working Paper 1485, Economics Department, Queen's University.
    • Handle: RePEc:qed:wpaper:1485
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    File URL: https://www.econ.queensu.ca/sites/econ.queensu.ca/files/wpaper/qed_wp_1485.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James G. MacKinnon & Morten Ørregaard Nielsen & Matthew D. Webb, 2023. "Leverage, influence, and the jackknife in clustered regression models: Reliable inference using summclust," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 23(4), pages 942-982, December.
    2. James G. MacKinnon & Morten Ørregaard Nielsen & Matthew D. Webb, 2021. "Wild Bootstrap and Asymptotic Inference With Multiway Clustering," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(2), pages 505-519, March.
    3. Guido W. Imbens & Michal Kolesár, 2016. "Robust Standard Errors in Small Samples: Some Practical Advice," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 98(4), pages 701-712, October.
    4. repec:clg:wpaper:2013-20 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. James G. MacKinnon & Matthew D. Webb, 2018. "The wild bootstrap for few (treated) clusters," Econometrics Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 21(2), pages 114-135, June.
    6. A. Colin Cameron & Jonah B. Gelbach & Douglas L. Miller, 2008. "Bootstrap-Based Improvements for Inference with Clustered Errors," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 90(3), pages 414-427, August.
    7. Davidson, Russell & Flachaire, Emmanuel, 2008. "The wild bootstrap, tamed at last," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 146(1), pages 162-169, September.
    8. Timothy Conley & Silvia Gonçalves & Christian Hansen, 2018. "Inference with Dependent Data in Accounting and Finance Applications," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(4), pages 1139-1203, September.
    9. Matthew D. Webb, 2023. "Reworking wild bootstrap‐based inference for clustered errors," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(3), pages 839-858, August.
    10. MacKinnon, James G. & Nielsen, Morten Ørregaard & Webb, Matthew D., 2023. "Cluster-robust inference: A guide to empirical practice," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 232(2), pages 272-299.
    11. Djogbenou, Antoine A. & MacKinnon, James G. & Nielsen, Morten Ørregaard, 2019. "Asymptotic theory and wild bootstrap inference with clustered errors," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 212(2), pages 393-412.
    12. Davidson, Russell & MacKinnon, James G., 2006. "The power of bootstrap and asymptotic tests," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 133(2), pages 421-441, August.
    13. Davidson, Russell & MacKinnon, James G., 1993. "Estimation and Inference in Econometrics," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195060119.
    14. Mitra Akhtari & Diana Moreira & Laura Trucco, 2022. "Political Turnover, Bureaucratic Turnover, and the Quality of Public Services," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(2), pages 442-493, February.
    15. Kline Patrick & Santos Andres, 2012. "A Score Based Approach to Wild Bootstrap Inference," Journal of Econometric Methods, De Gruyter, vol. 1(1), pages 23-41, August.
    16. Brewer Mike & Crossley Thomas F. & Joyce Robert, 2018. "Inference with Difference-in-Differences Revisited," Journal of Econometric Methods, De Gruyter, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, January.
    17. James G. MacKinnon & Matthew D. Webb, 2019. "Wild Bootstrap Randomization Inference for Few Treated Clusters," Advances in Econometrics, in: The Econometrics of Complex Survey Data, volume 39, pages 61-85, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    18. Guo Xu, 2018. "The Costs of Patronage: Evidence from the British Empire," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(11), pages 3170-3198, November.
    19. MacKinnon, James G. & White, Halbert, 1985. "Some heteroskedasticity-consistent covariance matrix estimators with improved finite sample properties," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 305-325, September.
    20. Andrew V. Carter & Kevin T. Schnepel & Douglas G. Steigerwald, 2017. "Asymptotic Behavior of a t -Test Robust to Cluster Heterogeneity," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(4), pages 698-709, July.
    21. Bester, C. Alan & Conley, Timothy G. & Hansen, Christian B., 2011. "Inference with dependent data using cluster covariance estimators," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 165(2), pages 137-151.
    22. David Roodman & James G. MacKinnon & Morten Ørregaard Nielsen & Matthew D. Webb, 2019. "Fast and wild: Bootstrap inference in Stata using boottest," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 19(1), pages 4-60, March.
    23. Gianmaria Niccodemi & Tom Wansbeek, 2022. "A New Estimator for Standard Errors with Few Unbalanced Clusters," Econometrics, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, January.
    24. James E. Pustejovsky & Elizabeth Tipton, 2018. "Small-Sample Methods for Cluster-Robust Variance Estimation and Hypothesis Testing in Fixed Effects Models," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(4), pages 672-683, October.
    25. James G. MacKinnon & Matthew D. Webb, 2017. "Wild Bootstrap Inference for Wildly Different Cluster Sizes," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(2), pages 233-254, March.
    26. A. Colin Cameron & Douglas L. Miller, 2015. "A Practitioner’s Guide to Cluster-Robust Inference," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 50(2), pages 317-372.
    27. Ivan A. Canay & Andres Santos & Azeem M. Shaikh, 2021. "The Wild Bootstrap with a “Small†Number of “Large†Clusters," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(2), pages 346-363, May.
    28. Xiaohong Chen & Norman R. Swanson (ed.), 2013. "Recent Advances and Future Directions in Causality, Prediction, and Specification Analysis," Springer Books, Springer, edition 127, number 978-1-4614-1653-1, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. MacKinnon, James G. & Nielsen, Morten Ørregaard & Webb, Matthew D., 2023. "Testing for the appropriate level of clustering in linear regression models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 235(2), pages 2027-2056.
    2. MacKinnon, James G. & Nielsen, Morten Ørregaard & Webb, Matthew D., 2023. "Cluster-robust inference: A guide to empirical practice," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 232(2), pages 272-299.
    3. Daniel Auer & Michaela Slotwinski & Achim Ahrens & Dominik Hangartner & Selina Kurer & Stefanie Kurt & Alois Stutzer, 2024. "Social Assistance and Refugee Crime," CESifo Working Paper Series 11051, CESifo.
    4. James G. MacKinnon & Morten Ørregaard Nielsen & Matthew D. Webb, 2023. "Leverage, influence, and the jackknife in clustered regression models: Reliable inference using summclust," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 23(4), pages 942-982, December.
    5. Ha, Sangeun & Ma, Fangyuan & Žaldokas, Alminas, 2024. "Motivating collusion," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    6. Rik Chakraborti & Gavin Roberts, 2023. "How price-gouging regulation undermined COVID-19 mitigation: county-level evidence of unintended consequences," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 196(1), pages 51-83, July.
    7. Richard K. Crump & Nikolay Gospodinov & Ignacio Lopez Gaffney, 2024. "A Jackknife Variance Estimator for Panel Regressions," Staff Reports 1133, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    8. Clarke, Dylan R. & Gold, Daniel E., 2024. "The effects of residential landlord–tenant laws: New evidence from Canadian reforms using census data," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bootstrap; clustered data; grouped data; cluster-robust variance estimator; CRVE; cluster sizes; wild cluster bootstrap;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General
    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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