Causality in Econometric Modeling : From Theory to Structural Causal Modeling

Orsi, Renzo;Mouchart, Michel;Wunsch, Guillaume
(2022) Journal of Econometrics and Statistics — Vol. 2, n° 1, p. 61-90 (2022)

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Authors
  • Orsi, Renzo
    Author
  • Mouchart, MichelUCLouvain
    Author
  • Wunsch, GuillaumeUCLouvain
    Author
Abstract
This paper examines different approaches for assessing causality as typically followed in econometrics and proposes a constructive perspective for improving statistical models elaborated in view of causal analysis. Without attempting to be exhaustive, this paper examines some of these approaches. Traditional structural modeling is first discussed. A distinction is then drawn between model-based and design-based approaches. Some more recent developments are examined next, namely history-friendly simulation and information-theory based approaches. Finally, in a constructive perspective, structural causal modeling (SCM) is presented, based on the concepts of mechanism and sub-mechanisms, and of recursive decomposition of the joint distribution of variables. This modeling strategy endeavors at representing the structure of the underlying data generating process. It operationalizes the concept of causation through the ordering and role-function of the variables in each of the intelligible sub-mechanisms.
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Citations

Orsi, R., Mouchart, M., & Wunsch, G. (2022). Causality in Econometric Modeling : From Theory to Structural Causal Modeling. Journal of Econometrics and Statistics, 2(1), 61-90. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/103190 (Original work published 2022)