Factor Augmented Sparse Throughput Deep ReLU Neural Networks for High Dimensional Regression

Abstract: This paper introduces a Factor Augmented Sparse Throughput (FAST) model that utilizes both latent factors and sparse idiosyncratic components for nonparametric regression. The FAST model bridges factor models on one end and sparse nonparametric models on the other end. It encompasses structured nonparametric models such as factor augmented additive models and sparse low-dimensional nonparametric interaction models and covers the cases where the covariates do not admit factor structures. Via diversified projections as estimation of latent factor space, we employ truncated deep ReLU networks to nonparametric factor regression without regularization and to a more general FAST model using nonconvex regularization, resulting in factor augmented regression using neural network (FAR-NN) and FAST-NN estimators respectively. We show that FAR-NN and FAST-NN estimators adapt to the unknown low-dimensional structure using hierarchical composition models in nonasymptotic minimax rates. We also study statistical learning for the factor augmented sparse additive model using a more specific neural network architecture. Our results are applicable to the weak dependent cases without factor structures. In proving the main technical result for FAST-NN, we establish a new deep ReLU network approximation result that contributes to the foundation of neural network theory. Our theory and methods are further supported by simulation studies and an application to macroeconomic data.