Hello Statalisters,
This (long) question involves numerical precision in Mata. Specifically, I
know to use quadcross (and quadcolsum etc )rather than X'X etc.
I'd like to know if Stata 10 found a solution to making + and - more
precise (i.e. quad precision). Have others developed methods to make
numerical maximization routines run more precise in Mata?
More specifically:
I am using Stata version 9 and I am migrating a program from Gauss over
into Mata and an ado file. Its a non-linear least squares estimation
command for count data with endogeneity (treatment variable governed by a
probit model), multiple stages.
As you know, when you are doing a newton-raphson or gradient like
maximization routine, you program a loop and have a command like this:
B= B0 - (INV_HESSIAN*GRADIENT)
And since this model involves nonlinearities, the formuala for the Hessian
is fairly complicated, it involves liberal use of :* and (Tx-1):* a
matrix.
I find that, using the same data, a maximization routine that gauss
finished in 8 iterations takes Stata/Mata something like 300 iterations.
So, I think that imprecision is the "root" of the problem.
Any feedback greatly appreciated.
Yours,
Michael Kunz
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