
Introduction to Spatial Econometrics
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Book Description
Although interest in spatial regression models has surged in recent years, a comprehensive, up-to-date text on these approaches does not exist. Filling this void, Introduction to Spatial Econometrics presents a variety of regression methods used to analyze spatial data samples that violate the traditional assumption of independence between observations. It explores a wide range of alternative topics, including maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation, various types of spatial regression specifications, and applied modeling situations involving different circumstances.
Leaders in this field, the authors clarify the often-mystifying phenomenon of simultaneous spatial dependence. By presenting new methods, they help with the interpretation of spatial regression models, especially ones that include spatial lags of the dependent variable. The authors also examine the relationship between spatiotemporal processes and long-run equilibrium states that are characterized by simultaneous spatial dependence. MATLAB® toolboxes useful for spatial econometric estimation are available on the authors’ websites.
This work covers spatial econometric modeling as well as numerous applied illustrations of the methods. It encompasses many recent advances in spatial econometric models—including some previously unpublished results.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Spatial dependence
The spatial autoregressive process
An illustration of spatial spillovers
The role of spatial econometric models
The plan of the text
Motivating and Interpreting Spatial Econometric Models
A time-dependence motivation
An omitted variables motivation
A spatial heterogeneity motivation
An externalities-based motivation
A model uncertainty motivation
Spatial autoregressive regression models
Interpreting parameter estimates
Maximum Likelihood Estimation
Model estimation
Estimates of dispersion for the parameters
Omitted variables with spatial dependence
An applied example
Log-Determinants and Spatial Weights
Determinants and transformations
Basic determinant computation
Determinants of spatial systems
Monte Carlo approximation of the log-determinant
Chebyshev approximation
Extrapolation
Determinant bounds
Inverses and other functions
Expressions for interpretation of spatial models
Closed-form solutions for single parameter spatial models
Forming spatial weights
Bayesian Spatial Econometric Models
Bayesian methodology
Conventional Bayesian treatment of the SAR model
MCMC estimation of Bayesian spatial models
The MCMC algorithm
An applied illustration
Uses for Bayesian spatial models
Model Comparison
Comparison of spatial and non-spatial models
An applied example of model comparison
Bayesian model comparison
Chapter appendix
Spatiotemporal and Spatial Models
Spatiotemporal partial adjustment model
Relation between spatiotemporal and SAR models
Relation between spatiotemporal and SEM models
Covariance matrices
Spatial econometric and statistical models
Patterns of temporal and spatial dependence
Spatial Econometric Interaction Models
Interregional flows in a spatial regression context
Maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation
Application of the spatial econometric interaction model
Extending the spatial econometric interaction model
Matrix Exponential Spatial Models
The MESS model
Spatial error models using MESS
A Bayesian version of the model
Extensions of the model
Fractional differencing
Limited Dependent Variable Spatial Models
Bayesian latent variable treatment
The ordered spatial probit model
Spatial Tobit models
The multinomial spatial probit model
An applied illustration of spatial MNP
Spatially structured effects probit models
References
A summary appears at the end of each chapter.
Reviews
Altogether, this book should be of great value for everyone interested in spatial econometric models. It not only provides a thorough overview of the topic but also nicely illustrates the application of spatial econometrics for different types of data.
—Matthias Arnold, Statistical Papers (2011) 52Without any doubt, the book by LeSage and Pace is a welcome addition to the spatial econometrics literature and will surely be a compulsory reference in this field. Although some good books on spatial statistics have come up in recent years, none of them is as specific as this one. … A nice feature of this text is that readers who are interested in implementing its methods could use MATLAB code that is publicly available on [two] Web sites … All in all we should thank the authors of this book for such a great effort in compiling and updating essential content of spatial econometrics.
—Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, April 2011LeSage and Pace present a distinctive introduction to spatial econometrics. … Chapters 5 and 6 provide what might be considered the first in-depth review of Bayesian methods in a spatial econometric context, including approaches to model comparison. … a good introduction to the field. The outstanding overview of Bayesian spatial econometric methods and interesting discussions of not-so-introductory topics such as space time and limited dependent variable models make this a book worth having in your bookshelf.
—Journal of the American Statistical Association, Sept. 2010, Vol. 105, No. 491Make room on your bookshelf. It is about time that such a text has been published. A variety of readers will gain from its breadth and timeliness. Students will be happy to find a single source of knowledge; faculty will be happy to have an updated text; and researchers will benefit from a comprehensive reflection on spatial econometrics. LeSage and Pace’s Introduction to Spatial Econometrics shines by offering a much-needed, state-of-the-art summary of spatial econometric methods.
—Kathleen P. Bell, Journal of Regional Science, Vol. 50, No. 5, 2010… This textbook is a good resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, and it provides a useful tool for empirical researchers who are interested in the application of spatial models. … [It] provides readers with a summary of some recent developments in spatial econometric models, especially with respect to the Bayesian approach. In addition, the book provides several chapters that are not treated formally in other similar textbooks, such as spatiotemporal models, matrix exponential spatial models, and limited dependent variable spatial models. With the empirical illustrations and MATLAB toolbox provided online, the book has a good balance of theoretical and empirical treatment of spatial models, and thus is a valuable reference for students and researchers who are interested in theoretical specifications and empirical applications of spatial models. … [it] fills some gaps in recent developments in spatial econometrics and updates some materials in the textbook of Anselin (1988). …
—Lung-Fei Lee and Jihai Yu, Geographical Analysis 42 (2010)… a landmark in raising the bar in the field of applied spatial econometrics. … the state of the art of applied spatial econometrics has taken a step change with the publication of LeSage and Pace’s book. One can no longer restrict oneself to the spatial lag and/or the spatial error model, or to simply interpreting their point estimates and testing whether these point estimates are robust to different specifications of the spatial weights matrix. …
—Spatial Economic Analysis, Vol. 5, No. 1, March 2010… the authors provide the right balance of theoretical detail and applied illustrations of the methods discussed. …The field is rapidly evolving and much of the material reflects recent ideas that have not appeared elsewhere. The text would be suitable for either an advanced undergraduate or a postgraduate course in spatial econometric modelling. … For those interested in implementing the methods and with knowledge of MATLAB, there is publicly available code which the authors refer to. The authors’ topic is an exciting area of statistics which will clearly evolve further and develop in the coming years. For these reasons alone, the text deserves wider exposure and the effort that will need to be invested in order to fully understand the material presented should be well rewarded.
—International Statistical Review, 2009The research community needs a text like this … The LeSage and Pace text will become a standard reference in the field and will find a welcome home on the shelf of every empirical researcher interested in spatial econometric techniques.
—Donald Lacombe, Ohio University, Athens, USAIf you have any interest in using spatial econometrics, you must pick up a copy of the new text Introduction to Spatial Econometrics by James LeSage and R. Kelley Pace. It is extremely well written for an econometrics textbook, as it is very clear and very concise. … I give this textbook my highest recommendation.
—Justin M. Ross, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA