Abstract
A new bias-corrected estimator is developed for dynamic panel model with both fixed and spatial effects. The estimator is asymptotically unbiased, normally distributed, and it has good finite sample properties (low finite sample bias and root mean squared error). Applying the estimator to annual consumption data for the continental U.S. states shows that state consumption growth is not significantly affected by its own (lagged) consumption growth. However, it is affected by lagged consumption growth of nearby states. These results support external habit formation model, which have been used to explain the behavior of U.S. stock returns.
