  A new method for estimating structural equation models (SEM) is proposed and
evaluated. In contrast to most other methods, it is based directly on the data,
not on the covariance matrix of the data. The new approach is flexible enough
to handle non-linear and non-smooth models and allows to model various
constraints. Principle strengths and weaknesses of this approach are discussed
and simulation studies are performed to reveal problems and potentials of this
approach.
