The Bootstrap for Network Dependent Processes

Abstract: This paper focuses on the bootstrap for network dependent processes under the conditional $\psi$-weak dependence. Such processes are distinct from other forms of random fields studied in the statistics and econometrics literature so that the existing bootstrap methods cannot be applied directly. We propose a block-based approach and a modification of the dependent wild bootstrap for constructing confidence sets for the mean of a network dependent process. In addition, we establish the consistency of these methods for the smooth function model and provide the bootstrap alternatives to the network heteroskedasticity-autocorrelation consistent (HAC) variance estimator. We find that the modified dependent wild bootstrap and the corresponding variance estimator are consistent under weaker conditions relative to the block-based method, which makes the former approach preferable for practical implementation.