Shape-Constrained Kernel-Weighted Least Squares: Estimating Production Functions for Chilean Manufacturing Industries

Daisuke Yagi, Yining Chen, Andrew L. Johnson, Timo Kuosmanen
2018 Journal of business & economic statistics  
In this paper we examine a novel way of imposing shape constraints on a local polynomial kernel estimator. The proposed approach is referred to as Shape Constrained Kernel-weighted Least Squares (SCKLS). We prove uniform consistency of the SCKLS estimator with monotonicity and convexity/concavity constraints and establish its convergence rate. In addition, we propose a test to validate whether shape constraints are correctly specified. The competitiveness of SCKLS is shown in a comprehensive
more » ... ulation study. Finally, we analyze Chilean manufacturing data using the SCKLS estimator and quantify production in the plastics and wood industries. The results show that exporting firms have significantly higher productivity.
doi:10.1080/07350015.2018.1431128 fatcat:ox6sg5cuhbh4fkqcfk4pjoki7a