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		| David E Giles | 
	
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		| ''Hermite regression analysis of multi-modal count data'' | 
	
		| ( 2010, Vol. 30 No.4 ) | 
	
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		| We discuss the modeling of count data whose empirical distribution is both multi-modal and over-dispersed, and propose the Hermite distribution with covariates introduced through the conditional mean. The model is readily estimated by maximum likelihood, and nests the Poisson model as a special case. The Hermite regression model is applied to data for the number of banking and currency crises in IMF-member countries, and is found to out-perform the Poisson and negative binomial models. | 
	
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		| Keywords: Count data,  multi-modal data,  over-dispersion,  financial crises | 
	
		| JEL: C4 - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics C2 - Single Equation Models; Single Variables: General
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		| | Manuscript Received : Aug 19 2010 |  | Manuscript Accepted : Nov 09 2010 | 
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