# OLS as approximation for non-linear function

Assume a non-linear regression model \begin{align} \mathbb E[y \lvert x] &= m(x,\theta) \\ y &= m(x,\theta) + \varepsilon, \end{align} with $$\varepsilon := y - m(x,\theta)$$.

I heard someone say that

OLS always estimates consistently the partial derivatives of the non-linear conditional expectation function evaluated (the partial derivatives) at the expected values of the regressors.

Can some please demonstrate this property?

Ok. It's a bit long to include the whole proof here, so I will just sketch:

Apply a first-order Taylor expansion around some, initially arbitrary point, $$x_0$$,

$$y = m(x_0) + [x-x_0]'\nabla m(x_0,\theta) + R_1 + \epsilon.$$

where $$R_1$$ is the Taylor remainder. Set $$b_0 = m(x_0),\; b = \nabla m(x_0,\theta),\;\beta = (b_o, b)'$$

$$\tilde x = x-x_0,\; u = R_1 + \epsilon$$ and revert to matrix notation

$$\mathbf y = \tilde X \beta + \mathbf u.$$

So what the OLS will attempt to estimate is the gradient of the conditional expectation function, evaluated at some point $$x_0$$, and the constant term will attempt to estimate the CEF evaluated at that point $$x_0$$.

The OLS will be

$$\hat \beta = \beta + (\tilde X'\tilde X)^{-1}\tilde X'u \implies \hat \beta - \beta = (\tilde X'\tilde X)^{-1}\tilde X'(\epsilon + R_1)$$

Since $$\epsilon$$ is by construction the conditional expectation function error, at the limit we will be left with

$$\text{plim}(\hat \beta - \beta) =E(\tilde x\tilde x')\cdot E(\tilde x\cdot R_1)$$

Now, $$R_1$$ will depend on the choice of $$x_0$$. Since $$R_1$$ represents the inaccuracy of the linear approximation, a natural thought is "what center of expansion minimizes the expected square Taylor remainder $$E(R_1^2)$$?" So that the linear approximation is deemed "best" under a criterion that mimics "Mean squared error", which is a well-known and widely used optimality criterion as regards deviations in general?

If one follows this path, one will find that setting $$x_0 = E(x)$$ minimizes $$E(R_1^2)$$ if the gradient of the CEF is estimated by OLS. Moreover, one finds that in such a case, $$E(\tilde x\cdot R_1) = 0$$. QED

Implementing this in practice means centering the regressors on their sample mean, while leaving the dependent variable uncentered.

• Coll thx alot if you happen to stumble over some interesting references you are welcome to add then when you have the time. Thx again :) – Jesper for President Feb 6 '20 at 21:22
• @StopClosingQuestionsFast If you mean references on the above result, I haven't find it anywhere, this is why I have submitted it as a paper for peer-review and publication as a nice little interesting result. – Alecos Papadopoulos Feb 6 '20 at 21:25
• Ahh ok, well let me know when a public working paper is available :) good luck. I wonder whether something like it could not be found in Li and Racine's book on non-parametric estimation. – Jesper for President Feb 6 '20 at 21:26