<p>The reference given in a comment under the question by @Bertrand, of  Cameron and Trivedi (2005, Section 6.5.4, page 198), is very useful, showing how linear 2SLS can be inconsistent.
I just stress two things based on the authors' example:</p>
<ol>
<li>The basic IV estimation involves using as an instrument <span class="math-container">$z$</span> (which is correlated with the endogenous regressor <span class="math-container">$x$</span>), and <em>not</em> <span class="math-container">$z^2$</span> (even if the regressor <span class="math-container">$x$</span> enters squared in the regression equation of their example).</li>
<li>For this IV-estimator to perform it must be the case then that <span class="math-container">$$E(x^2\cdot z) \neq 0.$$</span>
This is the familiar &quot;relevance&quot; criterion for an instrument, and I am mentioning it because, it is often the case that existing correlation in levels may disappear or become very weak if we square <em>one</em> of the two variables, especially if <span class="math-container">$x$</span> takes both negative and positive values, but even when it is of uniform sign throughout.</li>
</ol>
<p>The good thing is that we have available both <span class="math-container">$x$</span> and <span class="math-container">$z$</span> so we can at least assess what happens to their association of we square <span class="math-container">$x$</span> alone.</p>
<p>It would be instructive to use the Cameron-Trivedi setup and try to include <span class="math-container">$z^2$</span> as an instrument instead, to see what happens.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-16T15:05:34.047Z
2022-08-16T15:05:34.047Z
Alecos Papadopoulos
<p>I have the following problem, where I would like to have an advise or a reference:</p>
<p>I'm estimating a model which usually (in other papers) only includes the explanatory variable in its linear form, but, in my case, I have seen that the model would be correctly specified if it also includes the quadratic form of my explanatory variable. Despite this, usually the literature only makes an instrumental variable for the linear version of my variable, but not for the quadratic term. Given this, would it be incorrect if I also instrument this last term with the quadratic form of my instrumental variable? Is there an &quot;universal&quot; answer to this question, or it depends on the type of instrumental variable of my model?</p>
<p>Thank you for your time.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-15T18:37:22.437Z
There is an ambiguity in your use of the verb "to instrument". If you mean regressing the endogenous variable on the exogenous variables in a first stage, and using predicted values as regressors in a second stage (in the spirit of 2SLS), then you must be very careful as this can yield inconsistent estimates, as discussed by Cameron and Trivedi (2005, Section 6.5.4, page 198). Some equations would help (?)
Bertrand
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-16T21:14:45.747Z
Yes! I was needing that reference. Thank you!!!
Nacho
<econometrics><reference-request><applied-econometrics><instrumental-variable>
Can I instrument an endogenous variable and its quadratic form with the instrument and its quadratic form?
Nacho
# Can I instrument an endogenous variable and its quadratic form with the instrument and its quadratic form?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-07-15)

I have the following problem, where I would like to have an advise or a reference:

I'm estimating a model which usually (in other papers) only includes the explanatory variable in its linear form, but, in my case, I have seen that the model would be correctly specified if it also includes the quadratic form of my explanatory variable. Despite this, usually the literature only makes an instrumental variable for the linear version of my variable, but not for the quadratic term. Given this, would it be incorrect if I also instrument this last term with the quadratic form of my instrumental variable? Is there an "universal" answer to this question, or it depends on the type of instrumental variable of my model?

Thank you for your time.

**Tags:** econometrics, reference-request, applied-econometrics, instrumental-variable

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There is an ambiguity in your use of the verb "to instrument". If you mean regressing the endogenous variable on the exogenous variables in a first stage, and using predicted values as regressors in a second stage (in the spirit of 2SLS), then you must be very careful as this can yield inconsistent estimates, as discussed by Cameron and Trivedi (2005, Section 6.5.4, page 198). Some equations would help (?)  
> **username_0**: Yes! I was needing that reference. Thank you!!!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-08-16. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The reference given in a comment under the question by @username_1, of Cameron and Trivedi (2005, Section 6.5.4, page 198), is very useful, showing how linear 2SLS can be inconsistent.
I just stress two things based on the authors' example:

1. The basic IV estimation involves using as an instrument $z$ (which is correlated with the endogenous regressor $x$), and *not* $z^2$ (even if the regressor $x$ enters squared in the regression equation of their example).
2. For this IV-estimator to perform it must be the case then that $$E(x^2\cdot z) \neq 0.$$
   This is the familiar "relevance" criterion for an instrument, and I am mentioning it because, it is often the case that existing correlation in levels may disappear or become very weak if we square *one* of the two variables, especially if $x$ takes both negative and positive values, but even when it is of uniform sign throughout.

The good thing is that we have available both $x$ and $z$ so we can at least assess what happens to their association of we square $x$ alone.

It would be instructive to use the Cameron-Trivedi setup and try to include $z^2$ as an instrument instead, to see what happens.


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