Sparse linear models and [formula omitted]-regularized 2SLS with high-dimensional endogenous regressors and instruments

Abstract

We explore the validity of the 2-stage least squares estimator with l1-regularization in both stages, for linear triangular models where the numbers of endogenous regressors in the main equation and instruments in the first-stage equations can exceed the sample size, and the regression coefficients are sufficiently sparse. For this l1-regularized 2-stage least squares estimator, we first establish finite-sample performance bounds and then provide a simple practical method (with asymptotic guarantees) for choosing the regularization parameter. We also sketch an inference strategy built upon this practical method.