In a binary logistic regression, write the signed directional margin of observation as . Quasi-complete separation occurs when a nonzero direction makes all these margins nonnegative, with some zero and some strictly positive. Along coefficients , , each observation's log-likelihood contribution is nondecreasing, and those with positive margins strictly increase toward their limiting value. Hence the unpenalized fit cannot have a finite maximum in that direction. A group containing only outcome zeros is a simple example: sending its indicator coefficient to improves that group's likelihood while leaving all other observations unchanged. Zero fitted risk is then a boundary limit, and ordinary finite-coefficient Wald confidence intervals are unavailable.
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