A Latent-Variable Model of Quality Determination
构建了一个潜变量模型，利用易获取的数据分析企业产出质量的决定因素，并以养老院质量为例进行估计。
Because of data difficulties, there has been little empirical work analyzing the determination of the quality of a firm's output. This article constructs a latent variable model for this problem that uses easily obtainable data. The model is developed from the relationship between the firm's input demand functions and reduced-form output functions, and it has a novel multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) interpretation. The model also allows identification of an intercept, implying that an index of quality that is comparable across samples can be constructed. As an example, a latent variable model of nursing-home quality is estimated.