A random-perturbation-based rank estimator of the number of factors

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Summary We introduce a random-perturbation-based rank estimator of the number of factors of a large-dimensional approximate factor model. An expansion of the rank estimator demonstrates that the random perturbation reduces the biases due to the persistence of the factor series and the dependence between the factor and error series. A central limit theorem for the rank estimator with convergence rate higher than root $n$ gives a new hypothesis-testing procedure for both one-sided and two-sided alternatives. Simulation studies verify the performance of the test.