Proposes a new method for estimating counterfactual treatment effects.
problem Uncertainty in identifying causal mechanisms from observational data.
method Introduces a parameterized family of causal mechanisms that generalize Gumbel-max, trained to minimize counterfactual effect variance.
result Trained mechanisms yield lower variance estimates of counterfactual treatment effects.
Causal inference often relies on the counterfactual framework, which requires that treatment assignment is independent of the outcome, known as strong ignorability. Approaches to enforcing strong ignorability in causal analyses of observational data include weighting and matching methods. Effect estimates, such as the …
Proposes counterfactual explainability for causal attribution, extending variance analysis methods.
problem Lack of mechanistic understanding in existing tools for explaining complex models.
method Extends global sensitivity analysis methods to causal explanations using directed acyclic graphs.
result Developed methods to estimate counterfactual explainability and applied to income inequality analysis.
Estimates individual treatment effects using gradient interpolation and kernel smoothing.
problem Estimating individualized continuous treatment effects in observational data.
method Augment training data with independently sampled treatments and inferred counterfactual outcomes using gradient interpolation and kernel smoothing.
result Our method outperforms state-of-the-art methods on counterfactual estimation error.
We consider the problem of constructing diffusion operators high dimensional data X to address counterfactual functions F, such as individualized treatment effectiveness. We propose and construct a new diffusion metric KF that captures both the local geometry of X and the directions of variance of F. The res…
COCOA improves credit assignment in reinforcement learning by measuring contributions to rewards.
problem Improving sample efficiency in reinforcement learning through better credit assignment methods.
method Counterfactual Contribution Analysis (COCOA) for precise credit assignment.
result COCOA achieves lower bias and variance compared to Hindsight Credit Assignment (HCA), improving reinforcement learning performance.
New method for evaluating sequential recommendations with lower variance.
problem Evaluating good sequences of music, video, news, and e-commerce recommendations.
method Proposes a new counterfactual estimator for sequential reward interactions with lower variance and asymptotic unbiasedness.
result Our method outperforms existing methods in bias and data efficiency for sequential track recommendations.
Proposes Exogenous Matching for efficient counterfactual estimation.
problem Efficient estimation of counterfactual expressions in general settings.
method Transforms variance minimization into conditional distribution learning.
result Outperforms other importance sampling methods in counterfactual estimation.
New test for binary treatment effects using kernel methods.
problem Testing distributional effects of binary treatments.
method Kernel-based doubly-robust test, avoiding permutations.
result Valid type-I error with computational efficiency.
Proposes methods to identify and estimate counterfactual distributions with confounding.
problem Estimating counterfactual distributions in the presence of confounding.
method Nonparametric identification and semiparametric estimation using conditional copulas and machine learning.
result Valid inference for individual-level effects and nonparametric identifiability of latent confounding subspace.
Paper addresses theoretical risks in neural MCCFR, proposing Robust Deep MCCFR for improved performance.
problem Theoretical risks in neural MCCFR, especially in large games.
method Adaptive framework with selective component deployment, including target networks, exploration, and variance-aware training.
result Robust Deep MCCFR achieves significant exploitability improvements in both Kuhn and Leduc Poker.
This manuscript introduces the idea of using Distributionally Robust Optimization (DRO) for the Counterfactual Risk Minimization (CRM) problem. Tapping into a rich existing literature, we show that DRO is a principled tool for counterfactual decision making. We also show that well-established solutions to the CRM probl…
What is the most statistically efficient way to do off-policy evaluation and optimization with batch data from bandit feedback? For log data generated by contextual bandit algorithms, we consider offline estimators for the expected reward from a counterfactual policy. Our estimators are shown to have lowest variance in…
This study analyzes counterfactual explanations for student success models.
problem Improving trust in machine learning models for student success prediction.
method Comparison of counterfactual generation methods (WhatIf, Multi-Objective, Nearest Instance) for student success prediction models.
result WhatIf Counterfactual Explanations are more effective for student success prediction models.
Develops c-GNF for personalized social science policy analysis.
problem Challenges in estimating causal effects and counterfactual inference in social sciences.
method causal-Graphical Normalizing Flow (c-GNF) method.
result c-GNF performs well in estimating causal effects and counterfactual inference.
Proposes a model to estimate treatment effects in complex multiagent systems over time.
problem Challenges in evaluating interventions in multiagent systems, especially with time-varying relationships and covariates.
method Interpretable counterfactual recurrent network leveraging graph variational recurrent neural networks and domain knowledge.
result Achieved lower estimation errors and more effective treatment timing than baselines in simulated and real-world scenarios.
Bayesian approach for modeling counterfactual distribution and off-policy evaluation.
problem Modeling the counterfactual distribution and off-policy evaluation.
method Bayesian conditional mean embeddings and novel Bayesian methods for estimating ultimate treatment effect.
result Quantifying epistemic uncertainty in the counterfactual distribution and off-policy evaluation.
Methodology to analyze traffic accidents using microscopic models.
problem Understanding and predicting traffic accidents and their impact.
method Developed a statistical approach using microscopic traffic models and SUMO.
result Approximate distribution of total losses as a mean-variance mixture.
The paper tackles counterfactual inference with multioutput deep kernels in high-dimensional settings.
problem Performing counterfactual inference with observational data in high-dimensional settings with multiple actions and outcomes.
method The paper presents a general class of counterfactual multi-task deep kernels models based on Structural Causal Models (SCM) and Gaussian Processes.
result The models estimate causal effects and learn policies efficiently, scaling well with high dimensions.
Introduces lookahead counterfactual fairness to account for downstream effects of ML predictions.
problem Downstream effects of ML predictions on individuals not considered by counterfactual fairness.
method Introduces lookahead counterfactual fairness (LCF), a new fairness notion that considers future status. Proposes an algorithm based on theoretical conditions.
result Proposes an algorithm to achieve lookahead counterfactual fairness and validates it on synthetic and real data.
New method improves counterfactual distribution learning for high-dimensional outcomes.
problem Counterfactual distribution learning for high-dimensional outcomes with concentrated structure.
method Geometry-adaptive diffusion-guided smoothing estimators combining causal nuisance adjustment and local outcome geometry.
result Geometry-adaptive methods show steeper error decay in semi-synthetic experiments.
NCoRE learns counterfactual representations for combined treatments.
problem Estimating individual response to multiple simultaneous interventions.
method Neural conditional representation with modulators for cross-treatment interactions.
result NCoRE significantly outperforms existing methods in counterfactual treatment effect estimation.
Generates counterfactuals in target domain from source domain observations.
problem Cross-domain learning with domain shifts and lack of parallel datasets.
method Unsupervised, Neural Causal Models, Joint Causal Graphs, Effect-Intrinsic vs Domain-Intrinsic Variables.
result Framework generates counterfactuals that closely match ground truth.
New measure captures differences across entire distributions of counterfactual outcomes.
problem Capturing differences across entire distributions of counterfactual outcomes.
method Entropic optimal transport measure, statistical functional, smooth transformation of embeddings.
result Established first-order and second-order pathwise differentiability.
Comparing counterfactual distributions can provide more nuanced and valuable measures for causal effects, going beyond typical summary statistics such as averages. In this work, we consider characterizing causal effects via distributional distances, focusing on two kinds of target parameters. The first is the counterfa…
We present a Bayesian view of counterfactual risk minimization (CRM) for offline learning from logged bandit feedback. Using PAC-Bayesian analysis, we derive a new generalization bound for the truncated inverse propensity score estimator. We apply the bound to a class of Bayesian policies, which motivates a novel, pote…
Unified framework for counterfactual survival analysis improves treatment effect estimation.
problem Limited methods for counterfactual inference with survival outcomes.
method Unified framework for survival outcomes, nonparametric hazard ratio metric.
result Significantly outperforms alternatives in survival-outcome prediction and treatment-effect estimation.
Post-hoc explanations of machine learning models are crucial for people to understand and act on algorithmic predictions. An intriguing class of explanations is through counterfactuals, hypothetical examples that show people how to obtain a different prediction. We posit that effective counterfactual explanations shoul…
PO-Flow models potential and counterfactual outcomes for personalized treatment decisions.
problem Predicting individualized treatment effects from observational data.
method Continuous normalizing flow (CNF) framework for causal inference.
result Unified approach to potential outcome prediction, treatment effect estimation, and counterfactual prediction.
Flow IV uses IVs to infer counterfactuals in complex models.
problem Identifying causal effects and counterfactual reasoning in nonseparable outcome models.
method Utilizes instrumental variables and normalizing flows to estimate and infer counterfactual outcomes.
result Identifies a method to make causal inferences from observed data in nonseparable models.
Study uses artificial counterfactuals to show lockdowns reduced US case and death counts.
problem Impact of lockdowns on US case and death counts during the pandemic.
method Artificial counterfactual approach comparing states with and without lockdowns.
result Average two times more cases would have occurred without lockdowns.
Estimates RL data for dynamic treatment effects using GMM.
problem Estimating dynamic treatment effects from RL data with nonstationary behavior policies.
method Weighted GMM approach to stabilize variance in adaptive RL settings.
result Valid hypothesis testing and confidence regions for dynamic treatment effects.
The paper introduces a DRM for causal inference, offering a flexible method to analyze counterfactual distributions.
problem Estimating mean causal effects is limited; a distributional perspective is needed for a more thorough understanding.
method The paper employs a semiparametric density ratio model (DRM) with an empirical likelihood (EL) approach to estimate counterfactual distribution functions.
result The DRM framework enables direct and transparent causal inference from a distributional perspective, validated by numerical studies.
Proposes CCME framework for estimating heterogeneous treatment effects.
problem Estimating heterogeneous treatment effects in complex distributions.
method Embeds conditional distributions into RKHS, develops meta-estimators for CCME.
result Establishes finite-sample convergence rates and double robustness for CCME estimators.
Paper proposes CounterSample to improve convergence in LTR models.
problem Large variance in IPS weights slows convergence in LTR models.
method Introduces CounterSample algorithm with provably better convergence.
result CounterSample converges faster than standard IPS-weighted methods.
New framework improves counterfactual predictions using causal inference.
problem Challenges in predicting counterfactual outcomes with limited covariates and high-dimensional outcomes.
method Variational Bayesian causal inference framework for counterfactual generative modeling.
result Framework encourages disentangled exogenous noise and correct identification of causal effects.
Counterfactual inference has become a ubiquitous tool in online advertisement, recommendation systems, medical diagnosis, and econometrics. Accurate modeling of outcome distributions associated with different interventions -- known as counterfactual distributions -- is crucial for the success of these applications. In …
This paper tackles confounding biases in data augmentation.
problem Mitigating spurious correlations and confounding variables in training data.
method Formal analysis and counterfactual data augmentation.
result Removing confounding biases leads to invariant features and better generalization.
Proposes a method to create fair, robust predictors that remain consistent across different scenarios.
problem Creating fair and robust machine learning models that behave consistently across different scenarios.
method Graphical criteria and a model-agnostic framework called CIP based on HSCIC.
result Demonstrates the effectiveness of CIP in enforcing counterfactual invariance across various datasets.
Proposes a new method for algorithmic recourse in confounded settings.
problem Provides actionable recommendations for individuals affected by automated decisions.
method Relaxes assumptions of no hidden confounding and additive noise, requiring only causal graph and confounding structure.
result Bounds the expected counterfactual effect of recourse actions, ensuring favourable outcomes in expectation.
MCD automates counterfactual design searches for multi-modal tasks.
problem Designing for multi-objective goals and complex constraints.
method Model-agnostic counterfactual search method for multi-modal design modifications.
result MCD streamlines and automates counterfactual search, recommending effective design modifications.
SD-SCMs generate counterfactual data for causal inference benchmarks.
problem Benchmarking causal inference methods with realistic data.
method Sequence-driven structural causal models (SD-SCMs) for causal inference.
result State-of-the-art methods struggle with individual treatment effect estimation.
Before A/B testing online a new version of a recommender system, it is usual to perform some offline evaluations on historical data. We focus on evaluation methods that compute an estimator of the potential uplift in revenue that could generate this new technology. It helps to iterate faster and to avoid losing money b…
GWIB improves counterfactual regression by balancing latent distributions and reducing selection bias.
problem Selection bias between control and treatment groups negatively impacts counterfactual regression performance.
method GWIB uses Gromov-Wasserstein information bottleneck to maximize mutual information between covariates and outcomes while penalizing kernelized mutual information between latent representations and covariates.
result GWIB consistently outperforms state-of-the-art CFR methods in ITE estimation tasks.
Study reveals gaps between simulated and real-world treatment effect evaluation metrics.
problem Evaluation of treatment effect estimation models differs between academic and practical settings.
method Comprehensive empirical study comparing semi-simulated benchmarks and real-world datasets.
result Counterfactual metrics do not reliably predict observable metrics, and rankings from simulated benchmarks do not generalize to real-world data.
Synthetic control method improves policy evaluation in high-dimensional settings.
problem Evaluating the impact of new policies in large-scale applications.
method Two-phase approach: nearest neighbor matching followed by supervised learning.
result The method successfully improves estimate accuracy in large-scale experiments.
New method reduces bias and variance in OPE for large action spaces.
problem High bias and variance in OPE for large, combinatorial action spaces.
method Factored action spaces and decomposed importance sampling.
result Decomposed IS estimators have less variance than non-decomposed versions.
Generative models explain machine learning predictions with counterfactual instances.
problem Generating human-interpretable insights into machine learning model predictions.
method Sparse counterfactual explanations using conditional generative models.
result Single forward pass generates batches of counterfactual instances.