Bootstrap LM Tests for Spatial Dependence in Panel Data Models with Fixed Effects

This paper applies bootstrap methods to LM tests(including LM-lag test and LM-error test) for spatial dependence in panel data models with fixed effects, and removes fixed effects based on orthogonal transformation method proposed by Lee and Yu(2010). The consistencies of LM tests and their bootstrap versions are proved, and then some asymptotic refinements of bootstrap LM tests are obtained. It shows that the convergence rate of bootstrap LM tests is O((N T)-2) and that of fast double bootstrap LM tests is O((NT)-5/2). Extensive Monte Carlo experiments suggest that,compared to aysmptotic LM tests, the size of bootstrap LM tests gets closer to the nominal level of signifiance, and the power of bootstrap LM tests is higher, especially in the cases with small spatial correlation. Moreover, when the error is not normal or with heteroskedastic, asymptotic LM tests suffer from severe size distortion, but the size of bootstrap LM tests is close to the nominal significance level.Bootstrap LM tests are superior to aysmptotic LM tests in terms of size and power.