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A causal interpretation of extensive and intensive margin effects in generalized Tobit models

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin E. Staub

    (Socioeconomic Institute, University of Zurich)

Abstract
The usual decomposition of effects in corner solution models into extensive and intensive margins is generally incompatible with a causal interpretation. This paper proposes a decomposition based on the joint distribution of potential outcomes which is meaningful in a causal sense. The difference between decompositions can be substantial and yield diametrically opposed results, as shown in a standard Tobit model example. In a generalized Tobit application exploring the effect of reducing firm entry regulation on bilateral trade flows between countries, estimates suggest that using the usual decomposition would overstate the contribution of the extensive margin by around 15%.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin E. Staub, 2010. "A causal interpretation of extensive and intensive margin effects in generalized Tobit models," SOI - Working Papers 1012, Socioeconomic Institute - University of Zurich.
    • Handle: RePEc:soz:wpaper:1012
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    File URL: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/51794/1/wp1012.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Bettendorf, Leon J.H. & Jongen, Egbert L.W. & Muller, Paul, 2015. "Childcare subsidies and labour supply — Evidence from a large Dutch reform," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 112-123.
    3. Michael Pfaffermayr, 2014. "A GMM-Based Test for Normal Disturbances of the Heckman Sample Selection Model," Econometrics, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Kristina M. Bott & Alexander W. Cappelen & Erik Ø. Sørensen & Bertil Tungodden, 2020. "You’ve Got Mail: A Randomized Field Experiment on Tax Evasion," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(7), pages 2801-2819, July.
    5. Jing Cheng & Dylan S. Small, 2021. "Semiparametric models and inference for the effect of a treatment when the outcome is nonnegative with clumping at zero," Biometrics, The International Biometric Society, vol. 77(4), pages 1187-1201, December.
    6. Elisabeth Christen & Michael Pfaffermayr & Yvonne Wolfmayr, 2019. "Decomposing service exports adjustments along the intensive and extensive margin at the firm‐level," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 155-183, February.
    7. Li Su & Mingxiao Sha & Ruixue Liu, 2024. "Medical insurance, labor supply, and anti‐poverty initiatives: Micro‐evidence from China," International Studies of Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(2), pages 268-292, June.
    8. Hersche Markus & Moor Elias, 2020. "Identification and Estimation of Intensive Margin Effects by Difference-in-Difference Methods," Journal of Causal Inference, De Gruyter, vol. 8(1), pages 272-285, January.
    9. Myoung-jae Lee, 2017. "Extensive and intensive margin effects in sample selection models: racial effects on wages," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 180(3), pages 817-839, June.
    10. Bettendorf, Leon J.H. & Jongen, Egbert L.W. & Muller, Paul, 2015. "Childcare subsidies and labour supply — Evidence from a large Dutch reform," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 112-123.
    11. Castro, Juan Francisco & Velásquez, Daniel & Beltrán, Arlette & Yamada, Gustavo, 2022. "The direct and indirect effects of messages on tax compliance: Experimental evidence from Peru," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 483-518.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Limited dependent variables; potential outcomes; causality; conditional-on-positives effect; Tobit; two-part model; country margins of trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C24 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Truncated and Censored Models; Switching Regression Models; Threshold Regression Models
    • C34 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Truncated and Censored Models; Switching Regression Models
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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