Positivity: Identifiability and Estimability

Abstract

Positivity, the assumption that every unique combination of confounding variables that occurs in a population has a non-zero probability of an action, can be further delineated as deterministic positivity and stochastic positivity. Here, we revisit this distinction, examine its relation to nonparametric identifiability and estimability, and discuss how to address violations of positivity assumptions. Finally, we relate positivity to recent interest in machine learning, as well as the limitations of data-adaptive algorithms for causal inference. Positivity may often be overlooked, but it remains important for inference.