Testing nonparametric shape restrictions

Abstract

We describe and examine a test for a general class of shape constraints, such as signs of derivatives, U-shape, quasi-convexity, log-convexity, among others, in a nonparametric framework using partial sums empirical processes. We show that, after a suitable transformation, its asymptotic distribution is a functional of a Brownian motion index by the c.d.f. of the regressor. As a result, the test is distribution-free and critical values are readily available. However, due to the possible poor approximation of the asymptotic critical values to the finite sample ones, we also describe a valid bootstrap algorithm.