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Linn said
Here is what I write. ...
I thus try to write a command where the executed command if the
result (if shift==-1) is true also includes an if-formulation, and the
same with the executed command in the case where the result of the
initial criterion is false. If the shift value is -1, what I do with
the variable flow depends on whether the sum (flow[_n-1]+`cap') is
larger or smaller than the value given in `add'. Similarly, if the
shift variable isn't -1 but 1, what I do with flow depends on the sum
(flow[_n-1]-`cap') and whether this sum is smaller or larger than the
value given by `add'.
Others have pointed out that unlike other programming languages, the -
if- command is rarely the answer to a problem where you want to test
the value of each observation.
I believe that this code does what you descirbed in your original
posting.
----------------
clear
set obs 10
set seed 20081127
g t = _n
g cap = log(t+1)
g add = _pi + runiform()
tsset t
g byte shift = cond(runiform() > 0.5, 1, -1)
g flow = 5 in 1
replace flow = ///
(shift == -1 ) * cond(L.flow + cap < add, -cap, L.flow - add) ///
+ (shift == 1) * cond(L.flow - cap > add, cap, L.flow + add) in 2/l
list
-----------------
In this case, I have avoided any use of -if- (as a command or
qualifier!) by using the cond() function and the Boolean test, i.e.
(foo == bar) evaluates to 1 if the condition is true and 0 if it is
false. Also note that the construction of the running variable -flow-
must avoid the first observation, lest a missing value be propagated.
Kit Baum, Boston College Economics and DIW Berlin
http://ideas.repec.org/e/pba1.html
An Introduction to Modern Econometrics Using Stata:
http://www.stata-press.com/books/imeus.html
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