Bayesian estimation of the functional spatial lag model

Abstract: The spatial lag model (SLM) has been widely studied in the literature for spatialised data modeling in various disciplines such as geography, economics, demography, regional sciences, etc. This is an extension of the classical linear model that takes into account the proximity of spatial units in modeling. The extension of the SLM model in the functional framework (the FSLM model) as well as its estimation by the truncated maximum likelihood technique have been proposed by \cite{Ahmed}. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian estimation of the FSLM model. The Bayesian MCMC technique is used as estimation methods of the parameters of the model. A simulation study is conducted in order to compare the results of the Bayesian estimation method with the truncated maximum likelihood method. As an illustration, the proposed Bayesian method is used to establish a relationship between the unemployment rate and the curves of illiteracy rate observed in the 45 departments of Senegal.