A Comparison of Alternative Estimators for Binary Panel Probit Models

Recent advances in computing power have brought the use of computer intensive estimation methods of binary panel data models within the reach of the applied researcher. The aim of this paper is to apply some of these techniques to a marketing data set and compare the results. In addition, their small sample performance is examined via Monte Carlo simulation experiments. The first estimation technique used was maximum likelihood estimation of the cross section probit (ignoring heterogeneity). The remaining techniques estimated the binary panel probit model using: standard maximum likelihood; the Solomon-Cox approximation to this likelihood and finally; the Gibbs sampler to obtain Bayesian estimates. The results suggested that, in most cases, standard maximum likelihood estimation of the binary panel probit model was the preferred technique primarily because it is readily available to applied practitioners. Although when the variance of the heterogeneity term is small, the computational simplicity of the Solomon-Cox approximation may prove attractive. In large samples, the Gibbs sampler was also found to perform well.