Identification of the linear factor model

Citation
Williams, Benjamin, Identification of the linear factor model, Econometric reviews , 39(1), 2020, pp. 92-109
Journal title
ISSN journal
07474938
Volume
39
Issue
1
Year of publication
2020
Pages
92 - 109
Database
ACNP
SICI code
Abstract
This paper provides several new results on identification of the linear factor model. The model allows for correlated latent factors and dependence among the idiosyncratic errors. I also illustrate identification under a dedicated measurement structure and other reduced rank restrictions. I use these results to study identification in a model with both observed covariates and latent factors. The analysis emphasizes the different roles played by restrictions on the error covariance matrix, restrictions on the factor loadings and the factor covariance matrix, and restrictions on the coefficients on covariates. The identification results are simple, intuitive, and directly applicable to many settings.