I am running commands of the form xtreg y x. This yields different coefficient estimates for x each time it is run: -3.22e-17, 9.20e-18, etc. Running an equivalent regression with areg y x, a(z) yields the same estimate every time: 8.00e-17. I think the true estimate is zero, but I'd be happy with 8.00e-17.
The reason I care is that sometimes the coefficient is rounded to positive zero, and sometimes it is rounded to negative zero. This means the regression table gets changed in the repository even when it shouldn't be, with the minus symbol getting added or removed at random. Has anyone else dealt with this issue?
The reason I care is that sometimes the coefficient is rounded to positive zero, and sometimes it is rounded to negative zero. This means the regression table gets changed in the repository even when it shouldn't be, with the minus symbol getting added or removed at random. Has anyone else dealt with this issue?
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