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).