The traditional approach to estimate spatial models bases on a preconceived spatial weights matrix to measure spatial interaction among locations. The a priori assumptions used to define this matrix are supposed to be in line with the "true" spatial relationships among the locations of the...

This paper discusses a bootstrap-based test that checks if finite moments exist and indicates cases of possible misapplication. It notes, in fact, that a procedure for finding the smallest power to which a sample needs to be raised, such that the test rejects a hypothesis that the corresponding...