Logit Regressions

A logistical regression (Logit) is a statistical method for a best-fit line between a binary [0/1] outcome variable $$Y$$ and any number of independent variables. Logit regressions follow a logistical distribution and the predicted probabilities are bounded between 0 and 1.

Keep in Mind

• The beta coefficients from a logit model are maximum likelihood estimations. They are not the marginal effect, as you would see in an OLS estimation. So you cannot interpret the beta coefficient as a marginal effect of $$X$$ on $$Y$$.
• To obtain the marginal effect, you need to perform a post-estimation command to discover the marginal effect. In general, you can ‘eye-ball’ the marginal effect by dividing the logit beta coefficient by 4.

Implementations

Gretl

# Load auto data
open auto.gdt

# Run logit using the auto data, with mpg as the outcome variable
# and headroom, trunk, and weight as predictors
logit mpg const headroom trunk weight


Python

There are a number of Python packages that can perform logit regressions but the most comprehensive is probably statsmodels. The code below is an example of how to use it.

# Install pandas and statsmodels using pip or conda, if you don't already have them.

import pandas as pd
import statsmodels.formula.api as smf

index_col=0)

# Specify the model, regressing vs on mpg and cyl
mod = smf.logit('vs ~ mpg + cyl', data=df)

# Fit the model
res = mod.fit()

# Look at the results
res.summary()

# Compute marginal effects
marg_effect = res.get_margeff(at='mean', method='dydx')

# Show marginal effects
marg_effect.summary()


R

R can run a logit regression using the glm() function. However, to get marginal effects you will need to calculate them by hand or use a package. We will use the mfx package, although the margins package is another good option, which produces tidy model output.

# If necessary, install the mfx package
# install.packages('mfx')
# mfx is only needed for the marginal effect, not the regression itself
library(mfx)

data(mtcars)

# Use the glm() function to run logit
# Here we are predicting engine type using
# miles per gallon and number of cylinders as predictors
my_logit <- glm(vs ~ mpg + cyl, data = mtcars,
# The family argument says we are working with binary data
# and using a logit link function (rather than, say, probit)

# The results
summary(my_logit)

# Marginal effects
logitmfx(vs ~ mpg + cyl, data = mtcars)


Stata

* Load auto data
sysuse auto.dta

* Logit Estimation
logit foreign mpg weight headroom trunk

* Recover the Marginal Effects (Beta Coefficient in OLS)
margins, dydx(*)