Disturbance generation for targeted Monte Carlo with cluster fixed effects

Determine a principled method for generating disturbances in targeted Monte Carlo experiments for linear probability or linear regression models with cluster fixed effects, specifying realistic within-cluster correlation structures that are not absorbed by fixed effects and ensuring meaningful evaluation of cluster-robust inference methods.

Background

Targeted Monte Carlo experiments can quantify the reliability of inference for a specific dataset and model, but require a realistic disturbance-generating process. In models with cluster fixed effects, standard random-effects specifications can eliminate within-cluster correlation, undermining the need to assess clustered inference. A clear approach to generating disturbances in this setting is currently lacking.

References

It is not at all clear how best to generate the disturbances for models with cluster fixed effects.

When Can We Trust Cluster-Robust Inference?  (2604.02000 - MacKinnon, 2 Apr 2026) in Subsection 7.2 (Targeted Monte Carlo Experiments)