Identification of the linear factor model. (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: Econometric reviews. Volume 39:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Correlated factors -- factor analysis; factor model; identification; latent variables; C38 -- C31 -- C36; Econometrics -- Periodicals; 330.015195
• DOI: 10.1080/07474938.2018.1550042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0747-4938

Abstract

Abstract: This paper provides several new results on identification of the linear factor model. The model allows for correlated latent factors and dependence among the idiosyncratic errors. I also illustrate identification under a dedicated measurement structure and other reduced rank restrictions. I use these results to study identification in a model with both observed covariates and latent factors. The analysis emphasizes the different roles played by restrictions on the error covariance matrix, restrictions on the factor loadings and the factor covariance matrix, and restrictions on the coefficients on covariates. The identification results are simple, intuitive, and directly applicable to many settings.