Averaging Forecasts from Vars with Uncertain Instabilities

Averaging Forecasts from Vars with Uncertain Instabilities
Author: Todd E. Clark
Publisher:
Total Pages: 25
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:

Recent work suggests VAR models of output, inflation, and interest rates may be prone to instabilities. In the face of such instabilities, a variety of estimation or forecasting methods might be used to improve the accuracy of forecasts from a VAR. The uncertainty inherent in any single representation of instability could mean that combining forecasts from a range of approaches will improve forecast accuracy. Focusing on models of U.S. output, prices, and interest rates, this paper examines the effectiveness of combining various models of instability in improving VAR forecasts made with real-time data.

Averaging Forecasts from VARs with Uncertain Instabilities

Averaging Forecasts from VARs with Uncertain Instabilities
Author: Todd E. Clark
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2006
Genre: Economic forecasting
ISBN:

A body of recent work suggests commonly-used VAR models of output, inflation, and interest rates may be prone to instabilities. In the face of such instabilities, a variety of estimation or forecasting methods might be used to improve the accuracy of forecasts from a VAR. These methods include using different approaches to lag selection, different observation windows for estimation, (over-) differencing, intercept correction, stochastically time-varying parameters, break dating, discounted least squares, Bayesian shrinkage, and detrending of inflation and interest rates. Although each individual method could be useful, the uncertainty inherent in any single representation of instability could mean that combining forecasts from the entire range of VAR estimates will further improve forecast accuracy. Focusing on models of U.S. output, prices, and interest rates, this paper examines the effectiveness of combination in improving VAR forecasts made with real-time data. The combinations include simple averages, medians, trimmed means, and a number of weighted combinations, based on: Bates-Granger regressions, factor model estimates, regressions involving just forecast quartiles, Bayesian model averaging, and predictive least squares-based weighting. Our goal is to identify those approaches that, in real time, yield the most accurate forecasts of these variables. We use forecasts from simple univariate time series models and the Survey of Professional Forecasters as benchmarks.

Averaging Forecasts from VARs with Uncertain Instabilities

Averaging Forecasts from VARs with Uncertain Instabilities
Author: Todd E. Clark
Publisher:
Total Pages: 70
Release: 2007
Genre: Economic forecasting
ISBN:

A body of recent work suggests commonly-used VAR models of output, inflation, and interest rates may be prone to instabilities. In the face of such instabilities, a variety of estimation or forecasting methods might be used to improve the accuracy of forecasts from a VAR. These methods include using different approaches to lag selection, different observation windows for estimation, (over-) differencing, intercept correction, stochastically time-varying parameters, break dating, discounted least squares, Bayesian shrinkage, and detrending of inflation and interest rates. Although each individual method could be useful, the uncertainty inherent in any single representation of instability could mean that combining forecasts from the entire range of VAR estimates will further improve forecast accuracy. Focusing on models of U.S. output, prices, and interest rates, this paper examines the effectiveness of combination in improving VAR forecasts made with real-time data. The combinations include simple averages, medians, trimmed means, and a number of weighted combinations, based on: Bates-Granger regressions, factor model estimates, regressions involving just forecast quartiles, Bayesian model averaging, and predictive least squares-based weighting. Our goal is to identify those approaches that, in real time, yield the most accurate forecasts of these variables. We use forecasts from simple univariate time series models and the Survey of Professional Forecasters as benchmarks.

Forecasting Financial Time Series Using Model Averaging

Forecasting Financial Time Series Using Model Averaging
Author: Francesco Ravazzolo
Publisher: Rozenberg Publishers
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2007
Genre:
ISBN: 9051709145

Believing in a single model may be dangerous, and addressing model uncertainty by averaging different models in making forecasts may be very beneficial. In this thesis we focus on forecasting financial time series using model averaging schemes as a way to produce optimal forecasts. We derive and discuss in simulation exercises and empirical applications model averaging techniques that can reproduce stylized facts of financial time series, such as low predictability and time-varying patterns. We emphasize that model averaging is not a "magic" methodology which solves a priori problems of poorly forecasting. Averaging techniques have an essential requirement: individual models have to fit data. In the first section we provide a general outline of the thesis and its contributions to previ ous research. In Chapter 2 we focus on the use of time varying model weight combinations. In Chapter 3, we extend the analysis in the previous chapter to a new Bayesian averaging scheme that models structural instability carefully. In Chapter 4 we focus on forecasting the term structure of U.S. interest rates. In Chapter 5 we attempt to shed more light on forecasting performance of stochastic day-ahead price models. We examine six stochastic price models to forecast day-ahead prices of the two most active power exchanges in the world: the Nordic Power Exchange and the Amsterdam Power Exchange. Three of these forecasting models include weather forecasts. To sum up, the research finds an increase of forecasting power of financial time series when parameter uncertainty, model uncertainty and optimal decision making are included.

Forecasting with Small Macroeconomic VARs in the Presence of Instabilities

Forecasting with Small Macroeconomic VARs in the Presence of Instabilities
Author: Todd E. Clark
Publisher:
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2007
Genre: Economic forecasting
ISBN:

Small-scale VARs have come to be widely used in macroeconomics, for purposes ranging from forecasting output, prices, and interest rates to modeling expectations formation in theoretical models. However, a body of recent work suggests such VAR models may be prone to instabilities. In the face of such instabilities, a variety of estimation or forecasting methods might be used to improve the accuracy of forecasts from a VAR. These methods include using different approaches to lag selection, observation windows for estimation, (over-) differencing, intercept correction, stochastically time--varying parameters, break dating, discounted least squares, Bayesian shrinkage, detrending of inflation and interest rates, and model averaging. Focusing on simple models of U.S. output, prices, and interest rates, this paper compares the effectiveness of such methods. Our goal is to identify those approaches that, in real time, yield the most accurate forecasts of these variables. We use forecasts from simple univariate time series models, the Survey of Professional Forecasters and the Federal Reserve Board's Greenbook as benchmarks

Forecasting in the Presence of Structural Breaks and Model Uncertainty

Forecasting in the Presence of Structural Breaks and Model Uncertainty
Author: David E. Rapach
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing
Total Pages: 691
Release: 2008-02-29
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1849505403

Forecasting in the presence of structural breaks and model uncertainty are active areas of research with implications for practical problems in forecasting. This book addresses forecasting variables from both Macroeconomics and Finance, and considers various methods of dealing with model instability and model uncertainty when forming forecasts.

Macroeconometric Methods

Macroeconometric Methods
Author: Pami Dua
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 394
Release: 2023-04-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9811975922

This book provides empirical applications of macroeconometric methods through discussions on key issues in the Indian economy. It deals with issues of topical relevance in the arena of macroeconomics. The aim is to apply time series and financial econometric methods to macroeconomic issues of an emerging economy such as India. The data sources are given in each chapter, and students and researchers may replicate the analyses.The book is divided into three parts—Part I: Macroeconomic Modelling and Policy; Part II: Forecasting the Indian Economy and Part III: Business Cycles and Global Crises. It provides a holistic understanding of the techniques with each chapter delving into a relevant issue analysed using appropriate methods—Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Macroeconomic Modelling and Bayesian Methods; Chapter 3: Monetary Policy Framework in India; Chapter 4: Determinants of Yields on Government Securities in India; Chapter 5: Monetar y Transmission in the Indian Economy; Chapter 6: India’s Bilateral Export Growth and Exchange Rate Volatility: A Panel GMM Approach; Chapter 7: Aggregate and Sectoral Productivity Growth in the Indian Economy: Analysis and Determinants; Chapter 8: Forecasting the INR/USD Exchange Rate: A BVAR Framework; Chapter 9: Forecasting India’s Inflation in a Data-Rich Environment: A FAVAR Study; Chapter 10: A Structural Macroeconometric Model for India; Chapter 11: International Synchronization of Growth Rate Cycles: An Analysis in Frequency Domain; Chapter 12: Inter-Linkages Between Asian and U.S. Stock Market Returns: A Multivariate GARCH Analysis; Chapter 13: The Increasing Synchronization of International Recessions. Since the selection of issues is from macroeconomic aspects of the Indian economy, the book has wide applications and is useful for students and researchers of fields such as applied econometrics, time series econometrics, financial econometrics, forecasting methods and macroeconomics.

Handbook of Economic Forecasting

Handbook of Economic Forecasting
Author: Graham Elliott
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 1386
Release: 2013-10-24
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0444627413

The highly prized ability to make financial plans with some certainty about the future comes from the core fields of economics. In recent years the availability of more data, analytical tools of greater precision, and ex post studies of business decisions have increased demand for information about economic forecasting. Volumes 2A and 2B, which follows Nobel laureate Clive Granger's Volume 1 (2006), concentrate on two major subjects. Volume 2A covers innovations in methodologies, specifically macroforecasting and forecasting financial variables. Volume 2B investigates commercial applications, with sections on forecasters' objectives and methodologies. Experts provide surveys of a large range of literature scattered across applied and theoretical statistics journals as well as econometrics and empirical economics journals. The Handbook of Economic Forecasting Volumes 2A and 2B provide a unique compilation of chapters giving a coherent overview of forecasting theory and applications in one place and with up-to-date accounts of all major conceptual issues. Focuses on innovation in economic forecasting via industry applications Presents coherent summaries of subjects in economic forecasting that stretch from methodologies to applications Makes details about economic forecasting accessible to scholars in fields outside economics

Economic Forecasts

Economic Forecasts
Author: Ralf Brüggemann
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 176
Release: 2016-11-21
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3110510847

Forecasts guide decisions in all areas of economics and finance. Economic policy makers base their decisions on business cycle forecasts, investment decisions of firms are based on demand forecasts, and portfolio managers try to outperform the market based on financial market forecasts. Forecasts extract relevant information from the past and help to reduce the inherent uncertainty of the future. The topic of this special issue of the Journal of Economics and Statistics is the theory and practise of forecasting and forecast evaluation and an overview of the state of the art of forecasting.