robCov computes covariance matrix of robust regression coefficients
Under some regularity conditions, robust (S and MM) estimates are asymptotically normal, thereby allowing for Wald-type tests and confidence intervals. The covariance matrix of the estimated parameters \[ cov(\hat \beta)= q^2 \times \sigma^2 \times v \times V_X^{-1} \]
consists of four parts: 1) $q$ a correction factor for the scale estimate;
2) $\sigma$ the scale parameter.
3) $v$ a correction factor depending on the $\psi$ function which is used;
4) $V_X$= a matrix part. For OLS $V_X=X'X$. Given that in robust regression we give a weight to each observation, the matrix $X'X$ should be replaced by something like $X'WX$, where $W$ is a diagonal matrix containing the weights assigned to each observation.
The purpose of this function is to provide the user with different options for the estimate of $cov(\hat \beta)$ where $\hat \beta$ is a vector of regression coefficients obtained using S or MM estimation and a particular $\rho$ function.
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Koller, M. and W. A. Stahel (2011), Sharpening wald-type inference in robust regression for small samples, "Computational Statistics & Data Analysis", Vol. 55, pp. 2504-2515.
Croux, C., Dhaene G., and Hoorelbeke D. (2003), Robust standard errors for robust estimators. Technical report, Dept. of Applied Economics, KU Leuven.
Salini, S., Laurini, F., Morelli, G., Riani M. and Cerioli A. (2022), Covariance matrices of S robust regression estimators, Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation, Vol. 92, pp. 724-747, https://doi.org/10.1080/00949655.2021.1972300