Centre for Statistical & Survey Methodology Working Paper Series
Publication Date
2008
Recommended Citation
Chandra, Hukum and Chambers, R., Small Area Estimation Under Transformation To Linearity, Centre for Statistical and Survey Methodology, University of Wollongong, Working Paper 10-08, 2008, 29p.
https://ro.uow.edu.au/cssmwp/9
Abstract
Small area estimation based on linear mixed models can be inefficient when the underlying relationships are non-linear. In this paper we introduce SAE techniques for variables that can be modelled linearly following a non-linear transformation. In particular, we extend the model-based direct estimator of Chandra and Chambers (2005) to data that are consistent with a linear mixed model in the logarithmic scale, using model calibration to define appropriate weights for use in this estimator. Our results show that the resulting transformation-based estimator is both efficient and robust with respect to the distribution of the random effects in the model. An application to business survey data demonstrates the satisfactory performance of the method.