Book Image

Causal Inference and Discovery in Python

By : Aleksander Molak
4.7 (9)
Book Image

Causal Inference and Discovery in Python

4.7 (9)
By: Aleksander Molak

Overview of this book

Causal methods present unique challenges compared to traditional machine learning and statistics. Learning causality can be challenging, but it offers distinct advantages that elude a purely statistical mindset. Causal Inference and Discovery in Python helps you unlock the potential of causality. You’ll start with basic motivations behind causal thinking and a comprehensive introduction to Pearlian causal concepts, such as structural causal models, interventions, counterfactuals, and more. Each concept is accompanied by a theoretical explanation and a set of practical exercises with Python code. Next, you’ll dive into the world of causal effect estimation, consistently progressing towards modern machine learning methods. Step-by-step, you’ll discover Python causal ecosystem and harness the power of cutting-edge algorithms. You’ll further explore the mechanics of how “causes leave traces” and compare the main families of causal discovery algorithms. The final chapter gives you a broad outlook into the future of causal AI where we examine challenges and opportunities and provide you with a comprehensive list of resources to learn more. By the end of this book, you will be able to build your own models for causal inference and discovery using statistical and machine learning techniques as well as perform basic project assessment.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1: Causality – an Introduction
7
Part 2: Causal Inference
14
Part 3: Causal Discovery

S-Learner – the Lone Ranger

With this section, we begin our journey into the world of meta-learners. We’ll learn why ATE is sometimes not enough and we’ll introduce heterogeneous treatment effects (HTEs) (also known as conditional average treatment effects or individualized treatment effects). We’ll discuss what meta-learners are, and – finally – we’ll implement one (S-Learner) to estimate causal effects on a simulated dataset with interactions (we’ll also use it on real-life experimental data in Chapter 10).

By the end of this section, you will have a solid understanding of what CATE is, understand the main ideas behind meta-learners, and learn how to implement S-Learner using DoWhy and EconML on your own.

Ready?

The devil’s in the detail

In the previous sections, we computed two different types of causal effects: ATE and ATT. Both ATE and ATT provide us with information about the estimated average causal effect...