Estimation of spatial autoregressive models for origin–destination flows: A partial likelihood approach

We extend LeSage and Pace (2008)’s spatial autoregressive model for origin–destination flows by accommodating two-way fixed effects. A partial likelihood approach is used for estimation by applying an orthogonal transformation to remove fixed effects in the model. The quasi-maximum likelihood (QML) estimator of the partial log-likelihood function is consistent and asymptotically centered normal. Monte Carlo experiments verify this advantage in finite samples. From the U.S. migration flows, significant spatial influences are captured with smaller magnitudes than those from the model without fixed effects.