

Dynamic panel data analysis has become increasingly popular in a wide range of fields, due to its ability to take into account both: i) short and long term effects and; ii)unobserved heterogeneity between economic agents in the estimation of the parameter estimates.
This course offers a rigorous overview of existing dynamic panel data analysis techniques, thus providing participants with the opportunity to acquire the more advanced technical capabilities currently available for panel data analysis. In the opening session, participants are given, through a series of illustrative examples, a theoretical and applied overview of Instrumental variable analysis (IV) and Generalized methods of moments (GMM), both of which being an important class of estimators for the estimation of dynamic linear panel data models. The course then turns to address more recent issues in dynamic panel data analysis, such as weak instruments with persistent data; instrument proliferation; gaps in the data; estimation with serially correlated errors; robust inference with multiway clustering and the finite-sample performance of estimators and tests.
During the course, particular attention is paid (using a combination of both official Stata and community written dynamic panel data analysis commands) to: i) evaluating which specific econometric methodology/specification is the more appropriate for the analysis in hand; ii) the selection of appropriate instruments; iii) rigorous post-estimation diagnostic/specification testing; and iv) the problems of inference resulting from weak instrument bias, instrument-proliferation bias and small-sample bias. Special attention is also given to the interpretation and presentation of results. At the end of the course, participants are expected to be able, with the aid of the Stata routines implemented during the sessions, to independently implement the methodologies and techniques acquired during the course by adopting the Stata routines to their own particular research needs.
In common with TStat’s training philosophy, each session is composed of both a theoretical component (in which the techniques and underlying principles behind them are explained), and an applied (hands-on) segment, during which participants have the opportunity to implement the techniques using real data under the watchful eye of the course tutor. Moreover, throughout the course, theoretical sessions are reinforced using applied case studies, in which the course tutor discusses and highlights potential pitfalls and the advantages of individual techniques.
Our Dynamic Panel Data Analysis course is of particular interest to Ph.D. Students, researchers in public and private research centres, and professionals working in the following fields: Agricultural Economics, Economics, Finance, Management, Public Health, and the Political and Social Sciences, wishing to acquire the necessary applied and theoretical skills in order to be able independently conduct applied empirical research on dynamic panel data.
It is assumed that delegates have an introductory knowledge of panel data analysis. More specifically, that they are familiar with:
The arguments covered in our Linear Panel Data in Stata course;
Instrumental Variables and General Method of Moments estimation techniques; and
the statistical software Stata: including familiarity with Stata variable creation commands and Stata do files.
Those needing to refresh these concepts are referred to the reading lists on the respective course pages and to:
Chapters 1-9 of A. Colin Cameron and Pravin K. Trivedi Microeconometrics Using Stata, Second Edition.
SESSION I: PRELIMINARIES AND SIMPLE ESTIMATORS
The Dynamic Panel Data (DPD) Model
Assumptions
Inconsistency of basic panel data estimators (computed by xtreg)
Monte Carlo evaluation of the bias in xtreg procedures (xtarsim)
Consistent IV estimators
Anderson and Hsiao (AH) estimators
Stata implementation of AH: ivregress 2sls
SESSION II: OPTIMAL DIFFERENCE GMM ESTIMATORS (ARELLANO AND BOND, 1991)
Arellano and Bond (AB) Difference GMM estimators
Moment conditions, GMM criterion function and specification tests
Three Stata commands for AB: xtabond, xtdpd, xtabond2 (Roodman, 2009a)
The AR(1) model
Higher order AR models
Specifying exogenous covariates
Specifying predetermined covariates
Specifying predetermined covariates and their lags: weak and strict rules
Specifying endogenous covariates
One-step and two-step estimators
The Windmeijer’s correction of two-step standard errors
Specification tests:
AB autocorrelation tests (estat abond, xtanond2)
Hansen-Sargan tests (estat sargan, xtabond2)
Difference-in-Hansen tests for testing subsets of instruments (xtabond2)
Replicating AB (1991)
SESSION III: OPTIMAL DIFFERENCE GMM ESTIMATORS (ARELLANO AND BOND, 1998)
Blundell and Bond (BB) System GMM estimators
The issue of weak instruments with highly persistent series
More moment conditions from Mean stationarity: the System estimator as solution to weak instruments
Three Stata commands for the System estimator: xtdpdsys, xtdpd, xtabond2
Applying the system estimator to AR(p) models with exogenous, predetermined and endogenous covariates
Replicating BB (1998)
SESSION IV: FURTHER TOPICS IN DPD
Reducing the instrument count
Instrument proliferation: detection and solutions with xtabond2 (Roodman, 2009a and 2009b)
Autocorrelation of errors in the level equation
A transformation alternative to first-differencing: Forward orthogonal deviations
Sample selection in DPD
Ignorability of selection (al Saldon, Jimenez Martin, Labeaga, 2019)
Testing and correcting for selection (Semykina and Wooldridge, 2013)
Bias corrected LSDV in DPD
Approximations of the LSDV bias (Kiviet, 1995; Bruno 2005a)
Application through xtlsdvc (Bruno 2005b)
COURSE REFERENCES
M. al Sadoon, S. Jiménez-Martín, and J. M. Labeaga. Simple methods for consistent estimation of dynamic panel data sample selection models. W. P. no 1631, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Department of Economics and Business, 2019.
M. Arellano and S. Bond. Some tests of specification for panel data: Monte carlo evidence and an application to employment equations. Review of Economic Studies, 58:277–297, 1991.
B. H. Baltagi. Econometric Analysis of Panel Data. New York: Wiley, 2013.
R. Blundell and S. Bond. Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models. Journal of Econometrics, 87:115–143, 1998
G. S. F. Bruno. Approximating the bias of the lsdv estimator for dynamic unbalanced panel data models. Economics Letters, 87:361–366, 2005a.
G. S. F. Bruno. Estimation and inference in dynamic unbalanced panel data models with a small number of individuals. The Stata Journal, 5:473–00, 2005b.
J. F. Kiviet. On bias, inconsistency and efficiency of various estimators in dynamic panel data models. Journal of Econometrics, 68:53–78, 1995.
D. M. Roodman. How to do xtabond2: An introduction to difference and system gmm in stata. The Stata Journal, 9(1):86–136, 2009a.
D. M. Roodman. A note on the theme of too many instruments. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 71(1):135–157, 2009b.
A. Semykina and J. M. Wooldridge. Estimation of dynamic panel data models with sample selection. Journal of Applied Econometrics, 28:47–61, 2013.
F. Windmeijer. A finite sample correction for the variance of linear efficient two-step gmm estimators. Journal of Econometrics, 126:25–51, 2005
Microeconometrics using Stata, Revised Edition, (2010) di A. C. Cameron e P. K. Trivedi, Stata Press
Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data (2010) di J. Wooldridge, MIT Press
We are currently putting the finishing touches to our 2023 training calendar. We therefore ask that you re-visit our website periodically or contact us at training@tstat.it should the dates for the course which you are interested in following not yet be published. You will then be contacted via email as soon as the dates are available.
ONLINE FORMAT
This course offers a rigorous overview of existing dynamic panel data analysis techniques, thus providing participants with the opportunity to acquire the more advanced technical capabilities currently available for panel data analysis.