Minimax Risk in Estimating Kink Threshold and Testing Continuity

Abstract: We derive a risk lower bound in estimating the threshold parameter without knowing whether the threshold regression model is continuous or not. The bound goes to zero as the sample size $ n $ grows only at the cube root rate. Motivated by this finding, we develop a continuity test for the threshold regression model and a bootstrap to compute its \textit{p}-values. The validity of the bootstrap is established, and its finite sample property is explored through Monte Carlo simulations.