A Classifier-Lasso Approach for Estimating Production Functions with Latent Group Structures

Abstract

I present a new estimation procedure for production functions with latent group structures. I consider production functions that are heterogeneous across groups but time-homogeneous within groups, and where the group membership of the firms is unknown. My estimation procedure is fully data-driven and embeds recent identification strategies from the production function literature into the classifier-Lasso. Simulation experiments demonstrate that firms are assigned to their correct latent group with probability close to one. I apply my estimation procedure to a panel of Chilean firms and find sizable differences in the estimates compared to the standard approach of classification by industry.