st: evaluating maximum likelihood function

[Carlotta Schuster <schuster.carlotta@gmail.com>]

Hi all,



I am working on a non linear optimization problem using the ml
command. After some indications from statalisters I have created a
program which passes all the tests of ml check. However, when I try to
maximize the model, after hours of running, I get an error message
stating that Stata cannot calculate a numeric derivatives. Also, even
if I specify the iterate(0) in the options, the program still runs for
hours before giving any error.

In order to check whether my likelihood function evaluator is working
properly I would like to evaluate my likelihood function at some
predetermined values introduced by myself before doing any
maximization. I cannot find how to do this, but there should a way.
Any help would be appreciated. I include my code below. The third
piece of code is a program that my lf evaluator makes use of.

Thanks.

Carlotta Schuster



capture program drop nlprobitlf

program nlprobitlf

  version 11

  args lnfj xb b k

  tempvar xnl





global lambda = `k'



rmatcalc



quietly generate double `xnl' = w

drop w



quietly replace `lnfj' = lnnormal(`xb'+`b'*`xnl') if ($ML_y1 == 1)

quietly replace `lnfj' = lnnormal(-`xb'-`b'*`xnl') if ($ML_y1 == 0)







end







local controls9 logincome logincomesq children childrensq
logliquidassets logliquidassetssq retired college highschool age agesq
married financial_sector ///

SMC_pc GPD_pc GDP_pc INF UNEMP PENS



ml model lf nlprobitlf (istocks = `controls9') /b /k [pweight = hw0010]







capture program drop rmatcalc

program rmatcalc

version 11

*args lambda

tempvar aux_den



set more off

local N = _N

gen `aux_den' = 0

gen w = 0

forvalues i = 1(1)`N' {

local a = age-1 in `i'

forvalues y = 1(1)`a'{

qui replace `aux_den' = `aux_den' + (age-`y')^$lambda in `i'

}

forvalues z = 1(1)`a'{

qui replace w = w + ((age-`z')^$lambda)*rets`z'/`aux_den' in `i'

}

}

*drop w_den



end
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