On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 8:04 PM, Shuaizhang Feng <[email protected]> wrote:
> I find that stata 11 allows vce(cluster clustvar) option in xtreg, re models. Has anyone used this before? Does it make sense to cluster s.e. with random effects model? What is the difference with OLS with clustering?
-xtreg, re- is a GLS estimation method, which is different from OLS.
Each is optimal under its own assumptions, and if you need to
-cluster-, these assumptions are likely violated. An obvious case for
-xtreg, re vce(cluster PSU)- is a longitudinal study with a complex
survey design, in which the panels are nested in clusters. You run
-xtreg, re- to get a good account of within-panel correlations that
you know how to model (via a random effect), and you top it with
-cluster(PSU)- to account for the within-cluster correlations that you
don't know how or don't want to model. As Austin said, you need to
make sure you have approximately infinitely many clusters for this
estimator to work.
--
Stas Kolenikov, also found at http://stas.kolenikov.name
Small print: I use this email account for mailing lists only.
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