Robust methods for heteroscedastic regression models for time series. What is the variability of the exchange rate of the Euro to the Australian dollar? Can the use of the electrocardiogram of a patient be improved as a diagnostic tool for heart disease? A well-known limitation of the existing statistical methods for answering these types of questions is that a small proportion of extreme observations have the potential to lead to results that are more in agreement with the outliers than with bu ....Robust methods for heteroscedastic regression models for time series. What is the variability of the exchange rate of the Euro to the Australian dollar? Can the use of the electrocardiogram of a patient be improved as a diagnostic tool for heart disease? A well-known limitation of the existing statistical methods for answering these types of questions is that a small proportion of extreme observations have the potential to lead to results that are more in agreement with the outliers than with bulk of the data. As a consequence, the statistical analyses may lead to wrong conclusions. This project aims to develop new methodologies to solve this problem for a large class of studies. Applications to stock market risk, exchange rate, and diagnosis of heart diseases will illustrate the new methods.Read moreRead less
Identification Power and Instrument Strength in Discrete Outcome Models. This project aims to develop new econometric and statistical techniques to quantify causal effects in treatment models with discrete outcomes. Expected outcomes include a much-needed weak instrument test, a measure for identification strength in partial identification setting, and an instrument-covariate selection procedure for high dimensional discrete models based identification power. The benefits include advanced knowle ....Identification Power and Instrument Strength in Discrete Outcome Models. This project aims to develop new econometric and statistical techniques to quantify causal effects in treatment models with discrete outcomes. Expected outcomes include a much-needed weak instrument test, a measure for identification strength in partial identification setting, and an instrument-covariate selection procedure for high dimensional discrete models based identification power. The benefits include advanced knowledge in econometrics and statistics, and enhanced tools for program evaluation and policy assessment in empirical causal analysis using observational data. The project falls into the category of smarter information use and is relevant to any national priority areas where policy interventions require assessment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
New models and estimation methods in nonlinear panel data econometrics. This project will develop new econometric models and methods for capturing dynamic and complex relationships within economic and social systems. The outcomes of this project are expected to improve policy making process concerning climate change, economy and financial markets, through providing accurate estimates of relationships of interest.
Bayesian copula modelling of multivariate dependence: getting to grips with data that is far from normal. Copula models are very popular tools that are changing the way analysts deal with information rich data in fields as diverse as marketing, finance and transport studies. This project aims to improve and extend these tools, so that more accurate and reliable models can be employed, resulting in improved evidence-based decision-making.
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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101070
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,496.00
Summary
Consequences of Model Misspecification in Approximate Bayesian Computation. In almost any empirical application, the model the analyst is working with constitutes a misspecified description of the true process that has generated the data. While the method of Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is now a staple in the toolkit of the applied modeller, the impact of misspecification in ABC is unknown. This project aims to undertake a rigorous study into the behaviour of ABC under model misspecifi ....Consequences of Model Misspecification in Approximate Bayesian Computation. In almost any empirical application, the model the analyst is working with constitutes a misspecified description of the true process that has generated the data. While the method of Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is now a staple in the toolkit of the applied modeller, the impact of misspecification in ABC is unknown. This project aims to undertake a rigorous study into the behaviour of ABC under model misspecification. Expected outcomes include new theoretical results for ABC under misspecification and new methods capable of detecting/mitigating model misspecification. This project will provide significant benefits in all spheres where reliable, robust statistical inference methods are required in order to make reliable decisions.
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Econometric model building and estimation. This project aims to tackle issues in econometric model building and estimation under cross sectional dependence, heterogeneity and nonlinearity. This project will seek to establish flexible econometric models associated with estimation methods and user-friendly computational techniques to try to solve real world problems. The research outcomes are expected to be useful to empirical researchers in evaluating and improving model building and forecasting ....Econometric model building and estimation. This project aims to tackle issues in econometric model building and estimation under cross sectional dependence, heterogeneity and nonlinearity. This project will seek to establish flexible econometric models associated with estimation methods and user-friendly computational techniques to try to solve real world problems. The research outcomes are expected to be useful to empirical researchers in evaluating and improving model building and forecasting from better models in climatology, demography, economics, environment, finance, machine learning and neural networks.Read moreRead less
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
Bayesian analysis of individual decisions in health and labour economics. This project aims to exploit emerging Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to develop new approaches to modelling economic decision making. These methods will generate insights into two current and important policy debates. This includes (i) marijuana, alcohol and tobacco use and legalisation of marijuana use; and (ii) parental leave policies, maternity leave decisions and mothers' labour market dynamics. Although p ....Bayesian analysis of individual decisions in health and labour economics. This project aims to exploit emerging Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to develop new approaches to modelling economic decision making. These methods will generate insights into two current and important policy debates. This includes (i) marijuana, alcohol and tobacco use and legalisation of marijuana use; and (ii) parental leave policies, maternity leave decisions and mothers' labour market dynamics. Although policies play an important role in observed health and labour market behaviours, their exact effects on individuals' decisions and outcomes are often difficult to quantify due to the complex nature of the decision process. Outcomes from the project will include new evidence of changes in substance uses under different legal scenarios and provide benefits such as yielding vital evidence on labour market and health behaviour impacts to support policy makers and strengthen Australia's research capacity in Bayesian analysis.Read moreRead less
Measuring the Commercial Real Estate Sector in Australia. This project aims to address a significant gap in our understanding of the Australian commercial real estate sector. It will use detailed data to develop sophisticated models of the prices of commercial buildings. Expected outcomes include a suite of commercial real estate price indexes for Australia, by region and property type, and a comprehensive and transparent examination of the methods used to construct them. This will shed light on ....Measuring the Commercial Real Estate Sector in Australia. This project aims to address a significant gap in our understanding of the Australian commercial real estate sector. It will use detailed data to develop sophisticated models of the prices of commercial buildings. Expected outcomes include a suite of commercial real estate price indexes for Australia, by region and property type, and a comprehensive and transparent examination of the methods used to construct them. This will shed light on a hitherto poorly measured sector and provide significant benefits by better informing market participants, guiding statistical agencies in developing such measures and better-enabling policymakers, banks, superfunds and macroprudential authorities to understand the risk profile of the sector.Read moreRead less