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We investigate the relationship between the level of food safety risk in retail food establishments and average incomes in surrounding communities. Building on the environmental justice literature, we hypothesize that there is a relationship between community income levels and levels of food safety risk. Using data on the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) obtained from grocery store delis, we find that stores located in census tracts whose residents are in lower income quartiles have greater Lm prevalence. An indicator for American Indian and Alaskan Native residents also has a positive statistically significant relationship with food safety risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cressie-Read (CR) family of power divergence measures is used to identify a new class of statistical models and estimators for competing explanations of the data in binary choice models. A large flexible class of cumulative distribution functions and associated probability density functions emerge that subsumes the conventional logit model, and forms the basis for a large set of estimation alternatives to traditional logit and probit methods. Asymptotic properties of estimators are identified, and sampling experiments are used to provide a basis for gauging the finite sample performance of the estimators in this new class of statistical models.

This paper introduces a new class of estimators based on minimization of the Cressie-Read (CR)power divergence measure for binary choice models, where neither a parameterized distribution nor a parameterization of the mean is specified explicitly in the statistical model. By incorporating sample information in the form of conditional moment conditions and estimating choice probabilities by optimizing a member of the set of divergence measures in the CR family, a new class of nonparametric estimators evolves that requires less a priori model structure than conventional parametric estimators such as probit or logit. Asymptotic properties are derived under general regularity conditions and finite sampling properties are illustrated by Monte Carlo sampling experiments. Except for some special cases in which the general regularity conditions do not hold, the estimators have asymptotic normal distributions, similar to conventional parametric estimators of the binary choice model. The sampling experiments focus on the mean square errors in the choice probability predictions and the probability derivatives with respect to the response variable values. The simulation results suggest that estimators within the CR class are more robust than conventional methods of estimation across varying probability distributions underlying the Bernoulli process. The size and power of test statistics based on the asymptotics of the CR-based estimators exhibit behavior similar to those based on conventional parametric methods. Overall, the new class of nonparametric estimators for the binary response model is a promising and potentially more robust alternative to the arametric methods often used in empirical practice.

This paper considers estimation and inference for the multinomial response model in the case where endogenous variables are arguments of the unknown link function. Semiparametric estimators are proposed that avoid the parametric assumptions underlying the likelihood approach as well as the loss of precision when using nonparametric estimation. A data based shrinkage estimator that seeks an optimal combination of estimators and results in superior risk performance under quadratic loss is also developed.

This paper presents empirical evidence concerning the finite sample performance of conventional and generalized empirical likelihood-type estimators that utilize instruments in the context of linear structural models characterized by endogenous explanatory variables. There are suggestions in the literature that traditional and non-traditional asymptotically efficient estimators based on moment equations may, for the relatively small sample sizes usually encountered in econometric practice, have relatively large biases and/or variances and provide an inadequate basis for estimation and inference. Given this uncertainty we use a range of data sampling processes and Monte Carlo sampling procedures to accumulate finite sample empirical evidence concerning these questions for a family of generalized empirical likelihood-type estimators in comparison to conventional 2SLS and GMM estimators. Solutions to EL-type empirical momentconstrained optimization problems present formidable numerical challenges. We identify effective optimization algorithms for meeting these challenges.

When there is uncertainty concerning the appropriate statistical model to use in representing the data sampling process and corresponding estimators, we consider a basis for optimally combining estimation problems. In the context of the multivariate linear statistical model, we consider a semi-parametric Stein-like (SPSL) estimator, B( ), that shrinks to a random data-dependent vector and, under quadratic loss, has superior performance relative to the conventional least squares estimator. The relationship of the SPSL estimator to the family of Stein estimators is noted and risk dominance extensions between correlated estimators are demonstrated. As an application we consider the problem of a possibly ill-conditioned design matrix and devise a corresponding SPSL estimator. Asymptotic and analytic finite sample risk properties of the estimator are demonstrated. An extensive sampling experiment is used to investigate finite sample performance over a wide range of data sampling processes to illustrate the robustness of the estimator for an array of symmetric and skewed distributions. Bootstrapping procedures are used to develop confidence sets and a basis for inference.

As the marginal suspect and propensity to commit crime are unobserved across racial categories, it is difficult to quantify racial bias with law enforcement outcomes data. We test for racial bias in driving-under-the-influence of alcohol enforcement. The assessment outcome variable, blood alcohol content (BAC), provides information about motorist's choices and allows for a more refined test for racial bias compared with other law enforcement outcome data. We find no evidence of racial bias in the relevant range where our model applies. However, we do find differences in find rates at the lowest levels of BAC, where there should be no impairment. (JEL J7, K42), I. INTRODUCTION The Civil Rights Act of 1964 created a legal cause of action in Federal Courts in claims of discrimination on the basis of age, race, or gender under [...]