An adaptive Monte Carlo algorithm for computing mixed logit estimators

An adaptive Monte Carlo algorithm for computing mixed logit estimators

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Article ID: iaor2007994
Country: Germany
Volume: 3
Issue: 1
Start Page Number: 55
End Page Number: 79
Publication Date: Jan 2006
Journal: Computational Management Science
Authors: , ,
Abstract:

Researchers and analysts are increasingly using mixed logit models for estimating responses to forecast demand and to determine the factors that affect individual choices. However the numerical cost associated to their evaluation can be prohibitive, the inherent probability choices being represented by multidimensional integrals. This cost remains high even if Monte Carlo or quasi-Monte Carlo techniques are used to estimate those integrals. This paper describes a new algorithm that uses Monte Carlo approximations in the context of modern trust-region techniques, but also exploits accuracy and bias estimators to considerably increase its computational efficiency. Numerical experiments underline the importance of the choice of an appropriate optimisation technique and indicate that the proposed algorithm allows substantial gains in time while delivering more information to the practitioner.

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