Optimum experimental designs for models with a skewed error distribution: with an application to stochastic frontier models

Thompson, Mery H. (2008) Optimum experimental designs for models with a skewed error distribution: with an application to stochastic frontier models. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

In this thesis, optimum experimental designs for a statistical model possessing a skewed error distribution are considered, with particular interest in investigating possible parameter dependence of the optimum designs. The skewness in the distribution of the error arises from its assumed structure. The error consists of two components (i) random error, say V, which is symmetrically distributed with zero expectation, and (ii) some type of systematic error, say U, which is asymmetrically distributed with nonzero expectation. Error of this type is sometimes called 'composed' error. A stochastic frontier model is an example of a model that possesses such an error structure. The systematic error, U, in a stochastic frontier model represents the economic efficiency of an organisation.

Three methods for approximating information matrices are presented. An approximation is required since the information matrix contains complicated expressions, which are difficult to evaluate. However, only one method, 'Method 1', is recommended because it guarantees nonnegative definiteness of the information matrix. It is suggested that the optimum design is likely to be sensitive to the approximation.

For models that are linearly dependent on the model parameters, the information matrix is independent of the model parameters but depends on the variance parameters of the random and systematic error components. Consequently, the optimum design is independent of the model parameters but may depend on the variance parameters. Thus, designs for linear models with skewed error may be parameter dependent. For nonlinear models, the optimum design may be parameter dependent in respect of both the variance and model parameters.

The information matrix is rank deficient. As a result, only subsets or linear combinations of the parameters are estimable. The rank of the partitioned information matrix is such that designs are only admissible for optimal estimation of the model parameters, excluding any intercept term, plus one linear combination of the variance parameters and the intercept. The linear model is shown to be equivalent to the usual linear regression model, but with a shifted intercept. This suggests that the admissible designs should be optimal for estimation of the slope parameters plus the shifted intercept.

The shifted intercept can be viewed as a transformation of the intercept in the usual linear regression model. Since D_A-optimum designs are invariant to linear transformations of the parameters, the D_A-optimum design for the asymmetrically distributed linear model is just the linear, parameter independent, D_A-optimum design for the usual linear regression model with nonzero intercept. C-optimum designs are not invariant to linear transformations. However, if interest is in optimally estimating the slope parameters, the linear transformation of the intercept to the shifted intercept is no longer a consideration and the C-optimum design is just the linear, parameter independent, C-optimum design for the usual linear regression model with nonzero intercept. If interest is in estimating the slope parameters, and the shifted intercept, the C-optimum design will depend on (i) the design region; (ii) the distributional assumption on U; (iii) the matrix used to define admissible linear combinations of parameters; (iv) the variance parameters of U and V; (v) the method used to approximate the information matrix.

Some numerical examples of designs for a cross-sectional log-linear Cobb-Douglas stochastic production frontier model are presented to demonstrate the nonlinearity of designs for models with a skewed error distribution. Torsney's (1977) multiplicative algorithm was implemented in finding the optimum designs.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Postdoctoral
• Keywords: Optimum experimental design, linear design, nonlinear design, parameter dependent, D_A-optimality, C-optimality, approximated information matrices, singular information matrices, multiplicative algorithm, skewed or asymmetrically distributed error, composed error, stochastic frontier model, economic efficiency.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HA Statistics; H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory; Q Science > QA Mathematics
• Colleges/Schools: College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Statistics
• Supervisor's Name: Torsney, Dr Ben
• Date of Award: 2008
• Depositing User: Mery H Thompson
• Unique ID: glathesis:2008-236
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 27 May 2008
• Last Modified: 10 Dec 2012 13:17
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/236