Double Robust Bayesian Inference on Average Treatment Effects

We study a double robust Bayesian inference procedure on the average treatment effect (ATE) under unconfoundedness. Our Bayesian approach involves a correction term for prior distributions adjusted by the propensity score. We prove asymptotic equivalence of our Bayesian estimator and efficient frequentist estimators by establishing a new semiparametric Bernstein-von Mises theorem under double robustness; i.e., the lack of smoothness of conditional mean functions can be compensated by high regularity of the propensity score and vice versa. Consequently, the resulting Bayesian point estimator internalizes the bias correction as the frequentist-type doubly robust estimator, and the Bayesian credible sets form confidence intervals with asymptotically exact coverage probability. In simulations, we find that this corrected Bayesian procedure leads to significant bias reduction of point estimation and accurate coverage of confidence intervals, especially when the dimensionality of covariates is large relative to the sample size and the underlying functions become complex. We illustrate our method in an application to the National Supported Work Demonstration.