SemiParBIVProbit-package: Semiparametric Copula Regression Models
In SemiParBIVProbit: Semiparametric Copula Regression Models

Description Details Author(s) References See Also

This package provides functions for fitting several classes of copula regression models with several types of covariate effects. Many copula and marginal distributions are supported. The copula dependence parameter can also be specified as a flexible function of covariates.

This package, and in particular its main function SemiParBIVProbit(), has been originally designed to deal with bivariate binary responses and in fact the first model introduced was the semiparametric bivariate probit model (hence the name of the package). However, since then more models and options have been introduced.

The main fitting functions are listed below.

SemiParBIVProbit() fits bivariate regression models with binary responses (where the link functions are not restricted to be just probit). This is useful to fit bivariate binary models in the presence of (i) non-random sample selection or (ii) associated responses/endogeneity or (iii) partial observability. This function includes the Model argument which allows the user to fit the model in one of three situations mentioned above.

copulaReg() fits bivariate models with binary/discrete/continuous margins in the presence of associated responses/endogeneity.

copulaSampleSel() fits bivariate sample selection models with continuous/discrete response (instead of binary as it would be the case when using SemiParBIVProbit()).

SemiParTRIV() fits trivariate probit models (with and without double sample selection).

gamlss() fits flexible univariate regression models. The purpose of this function was only to provide, in some cases, starting values for the above functions, but it has now been made available in the form of a proper function should the user wish to fit univariate models using the general estimation approach of this package.

Survival models can also be fitted using copulaReg() and gamlss().

Other models/options will be incorporated from time to time.

SemiParBIVProbit provides functions for fitting flexible copula regression models in various situations. The underlying representation and estimation of the modelling framework is based on a penalized regression spline approach, with automatic smoothness selection. Several marginal and copula distributions are available. The numerical routine carries out function minimization using a trust region algorithm in combination with an adaptation of a smoothness estimation fitting procedure for GAMs (see mgcv for more details on this last point).

The smoothers supported by this package are those available in mgcv. Estimation is by penalized maximum likelihood with automatic smoothness estimation achieved by using an approximate AIC.

Confidence intervals for smooth components and nonlinear functions of the model parameters are derived using a Bayesian approach. Approximate p-values for testing individual smooth terms for equality to the zero function are also provided and based on the approach implemented in mgcv. The usual plotting and summary functions are also available. Model/variable selection is also possible via the use of shrinakge smoothers and/or information criteria.

The dependence parameter of the copula distribution can be specified as a function of covariates or a grouping factor if it makes sense. More generally, it is possible to specify all marginal distribution and copula parameters as functions of covariates.

Giampiero Marra (University College London, Department of Statistical Science) and Rosalba Radice (Birkbeck, University of London, Department of Economics, Mathematics and Statistics)

with contributions from Panagiota Filippou.

Thanks to Bear Braumoeller (Department of Political Science, The Ohio State University) for suggesting the implementation of bivariate models with partial observability.

Maintainer: Giampiero Marra giampiero.marra@ucl.ac.uk

Part funded by EPSRC: EP/J006742/1

Key references:

Filippou P., Marra G. and Radice R. (in press), Penalized Likelihood Estimation of a Trivariate Additive Probit Model. Biostatistics.

Marra G. and Radice R. (2011), Estimation of a Semiparametric Recursive Bivariate Probit in the Presence of Endogeneity. Canadian Journal of Statistics, 39(2), 259-279.

Marra G. and Radice R. (2013), A Penalized Likelihood Estimation Approach to Semiparametric Sample Selection Binary Response Modeling. Electronic Journal of Statistics, 7, 1432-1455.

Marra G. and Radice R. (2017), Bivariate Copula Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape. Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, 112, 99-113.

Marra G., Radice R., Barnighausen T., Wood S.N. and McGovern M.E. (in press), A Simultaneous Equation Approach to Estimating HIV Prevalence with Non-Ignorable Missing Responses. Journal of the American Statistical Association.

Marra G. and Wyszynski K. (2016), Semi-Parametric Copula Sample Selection Models for Count Responses. Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, 104, 110-129.

McGovern M.E., Barnighausen T., Marra G. and Radice R. (2015), On the Assumption of Joint Normality in Selection Models: A Copula Approach Applied to Estimating HIV Prevalence. Epidemiology, 26(2), 229-237.

Radice R., Marra G. and Wojtys M. (2016), Copula Regression Spline Models for Binary Outcomes. Statistics and Computing, 26(5), 981-995.

Wojtys M. and Marra G. (submitted). Copula-Based Generalized Additive Models with Non-Random Sample Selection.

SemiParBIVProbit, copulaReg, copulaSampleSel, gamlss, SemiParTRIV