opt_effect

This helper function does the heavy lifting for <code>optimize_effect_2</code>.
For a given casual query, it computes either a lower or an upper bound on the corresponding causal effect.

When causal quantities are not identifiable from the observed data, it still may be possible
to bound these quantities using the observed data. We outline a class of problems for which the
derivation of tight bounds is always a linear programming problem and can therefore, at least
theoretically, be solved using a symbolic linear optimizer. We extend and generalize the
approach of Balke and Pearl (1994) <doi:10.1016/B978-1-55860-332-5.50011-0> and we provide
a user friendly graphical interface for setting up such problems via directed acyclic
graphs (DAG), which only allow for problems within this class to be depicted. The user can
then define linear constraints to further refine their assumptions to meet their specific
problem, and then specify a causal query using a text interface. The program converts this
user defined DAG, query, and constraints, and returns tight bounds. The bounds can be
converted to R functions to evaluate them for specific datasets, and to latex code for
publication. The methods and proofs of tightness and validity of the bounds are described in
a paper by Sachs, Jonzon, Gabriel, and Sjölander (2022)
<doi:10.1080/10618600.2022.2071905>.

Michael Sachs

causaloptim

An Interface to Specify Causal Graphs and Compute Bounds on
Causal Effects

Michael C Sachs

Erin E Gabriel

Arvid Sjölander

Gustav Jonzon

Alexander A Balke

Colorado Reed

opt_effect function

<dl><dt>opt</dt>
<dd>A string. Either <code>"min"</code> or <code>"max"</code> for a lower or an upper bound, respectively.</dd>
<dt>obj</dt>
<dd>An object as returned by the function <code>analyze_graph</code>. Contains the casual query to be estimated.</dd></dl>

Arguments

Compute a bound on the average causal effect — opt_effect

<dl>

<dt>opt</dt>
<dd>A string. Either <code>"min"</code> or <code>"max"</code> for a lower or an upper bound, respectively.</dd>


<dt>obj</dt>
<dd>An object as returned by the function <code>analyze_graph</code>. Contains the casual query to be estimated.</dd>

</dl>

opt_effect: Compute a bound on the average causal effect

Description

Usage

Value

Arguments