Videos

Detection, Estimation, and Reconstruction in Networks: Causal effect estimation under inference using mean field methods

Presenter
April 24, 2025
Keywords:
  • combinatorial statistics
  • random graphs
  • network inference
  • network reconstruction
  • detection
  • estimation
MSC:
  • 05C80 - Random graphs (graph-theoretic aspects) [See also 60B20]
  • 60C05 - Combinatorial probability
Abstract
We will discuss causal effect estimation from observational data under interference. We adopt the chain-graph formalism of Tchetgen-Tchetgen et. al. (2021). Under “mean-field” assumptions on the interaction networks, we will introduce novel algorithms for causal effect estimation using Naive Mean Field approximations and Approximate Message Passing. Our algorithms are provablyconsistent under a “high-temperature” assumption on the underlying model.Finally, we will discuss parameter estimation in these models using maximum pseudo-likelihood, and establish the consistency of the downstream plug-in estimator. Based on joint work with Sohom Bhattacharya (U Florida).