Statsmodels: Statistical Modeling and Econometrics

Overview

Statsmodels is Python's premier library for statistical modeling, providing tools for estimation, inference, and diagnostics across a wide range of statistical methods. Apply this skill for rigorous statistical analysis, from simple linear regression to complex time series models and econometric analyses.

When to Use This Skill

This skill should be used when:

• Fitting regression models (OLS, WLS, GLS, quantile regression)
• Performing generalized linear modeling (logistic, Poisson, Gamma, etc.)
• Analyzing discrete outcomes (binary, multinomial, count, ordinal)
• Conducting time series analysis (ARIMA, SARIMAX, VAR, forecasting)
• Running statistical tests and diagnostics
• Testing model assumptions (heteroskedasticity, autocorrelation, normality)
• Detecting outliers and influential observations
• Comparing models (AIC/BIC, likelihood ratio tests)
• Estimating causal effects
• Producing publication-ready statistical tables and inference

Quick Start Guide

Linear Regression (OLS)

import statsmodels.api as sm
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd

# Prepare data - ALWAYS add constant for intercept
X = sm.add_constant(X_data)

# Fit OLS model
model = sm.OLS(y, X)
results = model.fit()

# View comprehensive results
print(results.summary())

# Key results
print(f"R-squared: {results.rsquared:.4f}")
print(f"Coefficients:\\n{results.params}")
print(f"P-values:\\n{results.pvalues}")

# Predictions with confidence intervals
predictions = results.get_prediction(X_new)
pred_summary = predictions.summary_frame()
print(pred_summary)  # includes mean, CI, prediction intervals

# Diagnostics
from statsmodels.stats.diagnostic import het_breuschpagan
bp_test = het_breuschpagan(results.resid, X)
print(f"Breusch-Pagan p-value: {bp_test[1]:.4f}")

# Visualize residuals
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter(results.fittedvalues, results.resid)
plt.axhline(y=0, color='r', linestyle='--')
plt.xlabel('Fitted values')
plt.ylabel('Residuals')
plt.show()

Logistic Regression (Binary Outcomes)

from statsmodels.discrete.discrete_model import Logit

# Add constant
X = sm.add_constant(X_data)

# Fit logit model
model = Logit(y_binary, X)
results = model.fit()

print(results.summary())

# Odds ratios
odds_ratios = np.exp(results.params)
print("Odds ratios:\\n", odds_ratios)

# Predicted probabilities
probs = results.predict(X)

# Binary predictions (0.5 threshold)
predictions = (probs > 0.5).astype(int)

# Model evaluation
from sklearn.metrics import classification_report, roc_auc_score

print(classification_report(y_binary, predictions))
print(f"AUC: {roc_auc_score(y_binary, probs):.4f}")

# Marginal effects
marginal = results.get_margeff()
print(marginal.summary())

Time Series (ARIMA)

from statsmodels.tsa.arima.model import ARIMA
from statsmodels.graphics.tsaplots import plot_acf, plot_pacf

# Check stationarity
from statsmodels.tsa.stattools import adfuller

adf_result = adfuller(y_series)
print(f"ADF p-value: {adf_result[1]:.4f}")

if adf_result[1] > 0.05:
    # Series is non-stationary, difference it
    y_diff = y_series.diff().dropna()

# Plot ACF/PACF to identify p, q
fig, (ax1, ax2) = plt.subplots(2, 1, figsize=(12, 8))
plot_acf(y_diff, lags=40, ax=ax1)
plot_pacf(y_diff, lags=40, ax=ax2)
plt.show()

# Fit ARIMA(p,d,q)
model = ARIMA(y_series, order=(1, 1, 1))
results = model.fit()

print(results.summary())

# Forecast
forecast = results.forecast(steps=10)
forecast_obj = results.get_forecast(steps=10)
forecast_df = forecast_obj.summary_frame()

print(forecast_df)  # includes mean and confidence intervals

# Residual diagnostics
results.plot_diagnostics(figsize=(12, 8))
plt.show()

Generalized Linear Models (GLM)

import statsmodels.api as sm

# Poisson regression for count data
X = sm.add_constant(X_data)
model = sm.GLM(y_counts, X, family=sm.families.Poisson())
results = model.fit()

print(results.summary())

# Rate ratios (for Poisson with log link)
rate_ratios = np.exp(results.params)
print("Rate ratios:\\n", rate_ratios)

# Check overdispersion
overdispersion = results.pearson_chi2 / results.df_resid
print(f"Overdispersion: {overdispersion:.2f}")

if overdisp