Some identification issues in nonparametric linear models with endogenous regressors

In applied work economists often seek to relate a given response variable y to some causal parameter μ* associated with it. This parameter usually represents a summarization based on some explanatory variables of the distribution of y, such as a regression function, and treating it as a conditional expectation is central to its identification and estimation. However, the interpretation of μ* as a conditional expectation breaks down if some or all of the explanatory variables are endogenous. This is not a problem when μ* is modeled as a parametric function of explanatory variables because it is well known how instrumental variables techniques can be used to identify and estimate μ*. In contrast, handling endogenous regressors in nonparametric models, where μ* is regarded as fully unknown, presents difficult theoretical and practical challenges. In this paper we consider an endogenous nonparametric model based on a conditional moment restriction. We investigate identification-related properties of this model when the unknown function μ* belongs to a linear space. We also investigate underidentification of μ* along with the identification of its linear functionals. Several examples are provided to develop intuition about identification and estimation for endogenous nonparametric regression and related models.