Pooling econometric models for prediction and decision making. The project develops methods for combining econometric models with the goal of improving prediction. It applies these methods to macroeconomic models used to improve monetary policy and to asset return models used to improve financial risk management.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100029
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,197.00
Summary
Variational Inference for Intractable and Misspecified State Space Models. State space models (SSMs) are popularly used to model economic variables such as inflation and financial volatility. Variational inference is a technique that allows for fast implementation of SSMs, but whose properties are yet to be understood. This project aims to study the properties of variational inference for SSMs used in economics.
This research will develop new variational inference techniques to improve inferent ....Variational Inference for Intractable and Misspecified State Space Models. State space models (SSMs) are popularly used to model economic variables such as inflation and financial volatility. Variational inference is a technique that allows for fast implementation of SSMs, but whose properties are yet to be understood. This project aims to study the properties of variational inference for SSMs used in economics.
This research will develop new variational inference techniques to improve inferential and predictive accuracy from SSMs. An expected implication of this project is that it will expand the ability of economic institutions to employ larger SSMs, which will allow for more accurate models for economic variables. This will provide significant social benefits by leading to better informed economic policy.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100713
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Nonparametric estimation and forecasting of yield curve dynamics. This project aims to develop a suite of nonparametric estimation and forecasting techniques for yield curves, which describe how interest rates vary with different maturities. Its significance for monetary policy and fixed-income investment is interesting to policy makers and financial practitioners. Time-varying features are needed in the specification of the yield curve, given the constantly changing financial environment in whi ....Nonparametric estimation and forecasting of yield curve dynamics. This project aims to develop a suite of nonparametric estimation and forecasting techniques for yield curves, which describe how interest rates vary with different maturities. Its significance for monetary policy and fixed-income investment is interesting to policy makers and financial practitioners. Time-varying features are needed in the specification of the yield curve, given the constantly changing financial environment in which bond markets operate. Expected outcomes include new statistical methods and forecasting procedures applicable to empirical problems in economics and finance.Read moreRead less
Closing the Gap Between Theory and Data in Macroeconometrics. This project aims to bring econometric models (the empirical vehicle for inference) and economic models (the theory) closer together. A new model is intended to be proposed that will address a significant issue with the interpretation of the outputs of the econometric models. As a first contribution, the project is expected to develop the model and an inferential framework for this model using probability theory on manifolds. In a sec ....Closing the Gap Between Theory and Data in Macroeconometrics. This project aims to bring econometric models (the empirical vehicle for inference) and economic models (the theory) closer together. A new model is intended to be proposed that will address a significant issue with the interpretation of the outputs of the econometric models. As a first contribution, the project is expected to develop the model and an inferential framework for this model using probability theory on manifolds. In a second contribution, it is expected to construct an algorithm to permit inference leading to outputs useful to policy analysts. The model is intended to be parsimonious, which facilitates the development of a time-varying version to allow the model to evolve with the economy and provide better policy guidance.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100795
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,000.00
Summary
New approaches to estimating nonlinear time-varying macroeconometric models. Quantitative models are essential for formulating good policies. In a changing world, the analysis should be based on models that allow the behaviour of the economy to change over time. Due to computational limitations, however, one is often restricted to linear models, even when nonlinear ones are more appropriate. This project aims to develop new methods for estimating time-varying nonlinear models. Two important appl ....New approaches to estimating nonlinear time-varying macroeconometric models. Quantitative models are essential for formulating good policies. In a changing world, the analysis should be based on models that allow the behaviour of the economy to change over time. Due to computational limitations, however, one is often restricted to linear models, even when nonlinear ones are more appropriate. This project aims to develop new methods for estimating time-varying nonlinear models. Two important applications are also considered: one investigates how the zero lower bound on interest rates affects the monetary policy transmission mechanism; and, the other examines how uncertainties about monetary and fiscal policy affect economic growth and inflation. This project will have strong practical significance for conducting macroeconomic policy.Read moreRead less
Measuring inflation expectations and inflation expectations uncertainty. This project aims to construct model-based measures of inflation expectations and inflation expectations uncertainty. Inflation expectations can determine economic outcomes. This project will develop non-linear time-varying models to combine information from noisy and possibly biased measures of inflation expectations from surveys and financial markets. These model-based measures are expected to be better calibrated and to ....Measuring inflation expectations and inflation expectations uncertainty. This project aims to construct model-based measures of inflation expectations and inflation expectations uncertainty. Inflation expectations can determine economic outcomes. This project will develop non-linear time-varying models to combine information from noisy and possibly biased measures of inflation expectations from surveys and financial markets. These model-based measures are expected to be better calibrated and to provide valuable information for policymakers for formulating macroeconomic policies. They can be used to better assess the credibility of monetary policy and shed light on the causes of low inflation rate in developed economies.Read moreRead less
High-dimensional models with a change point. This project aims to provide a set of estimation and inference procedures for high dimensional quantile regression. Statistical models of threshold regression with change or tipping points are used to explore social issues, including changes in oil and gas prices, effective dosage of drugs and the racial mix in neighbourhoods. To date, using low numbers of variables, the findings have been limited. Big data makes it possible and desirable to solve mor ....High-dimensional models with a change point. This project aims to provide a set of estimation and inference procedures for high dimensional quantile regression. Statistical models of threshold regression with change or tipping points are used to explore social issues, including changes in oil and gas prices, effective dosage of drugs and the racial mix in neighbourhoods. To date, using low numbers of variables, the findings have been limited. Big data makes it possible and desirable to solve more detailed models to provide more accurate results. The quality and accuracy of the project’s results are expected to help governments devise well informed and appropriate policies for social issues.Read moreRead less
High-frequency Estimation of Term Structure Models at the Zero Lower Bound. This project aims to quantify monetary policy shocks as shifts of the entire term structure of interest rates, when the central bank’s policy rate is constrained at the near-zero level. The proposed method will use a high-dimensional panel of high frequency government bond data. The term structure and resultant policy shocks estimated at intra-day frequencies for major economies including Australia, will be made publicly ....High-frequency Estimation of Term Structure Models at the Zero Lower Bound. This project aims to quantify monetary policy shocks as shifts of the entire term structure of interest rates, when the central bank’s policy rate is constrained at the near-zero level. The proposed method will use a high-dimensional panel of high frequency government bond data. The term structure and resultant policy shocks estimated at intra-day frequencies for major economies including Australia, will be made publicly available. This project expects to deepen our understanding of how monetary policy decisions affect the macroeconomy in a near-zero interest-rate environment. This should provide significant benefits to policymakers for implementing and monitoring monetary policy in achieving desired economic outcomes.Read moreRead less
Large dynamic time-varying models for structural macroeconomic inference. This project aims to broaden the range of macroeconomic models that have an integrated capacity for both greater realism and efficiency in analysis. This approach will be applied to two contexts at the forefront of current macroeconomic research, the effects of noisy productivity signals on business cycles and the effects of fiscal policy shocks. Flexible macro-econometric models underpin accurate inference by economists ....Large dynamic time-varying models for structural macroeconomic inference. This project aims to broaden the range of macroeconomic models that have an integrated capacity for both greater realism and efficiency in analysis. This approach will be applied to two contexts at the forefront of current macroeconomic research, the effects of noisy productivity signals on business cycles and the effects of fiscal policy shocks. Flexible macro-econometric models underpin accurate inference by economists and policymakers and the project outputs should provide widespread and significant benefits by improving policy and boosting Australia’s comparative advantage.Read moreRead less
Measuring the effect of monetary policy on the economy. This project aims to measure the effect of monetary policy on the economy, notably consumption and investment, in Australia and the US. This research intends to fill a gap in the empirical macroeconomic literature, which focuses on the supply side of the economy. This project will account for unstable economic conditions caused by institutional or behavioural changes, such as financial development / liberalisation and preference shocks, in ....Measuring the effect of monetary policy on the economy. This project aims to measure the effect of monetary policy on the economy, notably consumption and investment, in Australia and the US. This research intends to fill a gap in the empirical macroeconomic literature, which focuses on the supply side of the economy. This project will account for unstable economic conditions caused by institutional or behavioural changes, such as financial development / liberalisation and preference shocks, in the analysis; and develop econometric methods tailored for application to models with time varying parameters. This project expects to contribute to understanding the economy’s recent unresponsiveness to monetary policy.Read moreRead less