st: Interpreting pstest outputs: Pseudo R2 from probit estimation

[ippab ippab <ippab.statalist@gmail.com>]

Hello Everyone,

I am struggling to understand the meaning of the final output from the
pstest.  The help file indicates that it reports the  Pseudo R2 from
probit estimation of the conditional treatment probability (propensity
score) on on all the variables in varlist before matching, and Pseudo
R2 from the same probit on the matched samples.  I am wondering how to
interpret these results.  What would be an indication of good matches.
 For example, is joint insignificance of all the regressors after
matching is desired?

Here is what I am getting with kernel k(normal) matching:

--------------------------------------------------------------
    Sample |    Pseudo R2      LR chi2        p>chi2
------------+-------------------------------------------------
 Unmatched |        0.083       771.26         0.000
   Matched |        0.002        13.83         0.054
--------------------------------------------------------------



When I use  kernel k(biweight), I get different results:



--------------------------------------------------------------
    Sample |    Pseudo R2      LR chi2        p>chi2
------------+-------------------------------------------------
 Unmatched |        0.083       771.26         0.000
   Matched |        0.000         1.44         0.984
--------------------------------------------------------------



In the second case, for the matched sample, we fail to reject the H0:
all regressors are jointly insignificant.  So, can I conclude that
kernel k(biweight) matching is better?  What would be a test to check
the fit (performance) of the matching method?

Thanks a lot!

Best regards,

ippab

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