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Forecasting economic activity from yield curve factors

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  • Argyropoulos, Efthymios
  • Tzavalis, Elias

Abstract

This paper provides clear-cut evidence that the slope and curvature factors of the term structure of interest rates (yield curve) contain more information about future changes in economic activity than the term spread itself, often used in the literature as a predictive regressor of economic activity. These two factors reflect different information about future economic activity, which is smoothed out by the term spread. The paper shows that the slope factor has predictive power on future economic activity over longer horizons ahead, and thus may be interpreted as reflecting future business cycle conditions. On the other hand, the curvature factor, which enters the term spread with opposite sign than the slope factor, has predictive power on shorter movements of future economic activity which may be associated with changes in the current stance of monetary policy. These results hold for a number of world developed economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Argyropoulos, Efthymios & Tzavalis, Elias, 2016. "Forecasting economic activity from yield curve factors," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 293-311.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:36:y:2016:i:c:p:293-311
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2016.02.003
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    4. Elias, Nikolaos & Smyrnakis, Dimitris & Tzavalis, Elias, 2022. "Predicting future exchange rate changes based on interest rates and holding-period returns differentials net of the forward risk premium effects," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 694-715.
    5. Ioannidis, Christos & Ka, Kook, 2018. "The impact of oil price shocks on the term structure of interest rates," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 601-620.
    6. Gebka, Bartosz & Wohar, Mark E., 2018. "The predictive power of the yield spread for future economic expansions: Evidence from a new approach," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 181-195.
    7. Cepni, Oguzhan & Gupta, Rangan & Karahan, Cenk C. & Lucey, Brian, 2022. "Oil price shocks and yield curve dynamics in emerging markets," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 613-623.
    8. Ronald Ravinesh Kumar & Peter Josef Stauvermann & Hang Thi Thu Vu, 2021. "The Relationship between Yield Curve and Economic Activity: An Analysis of G7 Countries," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-23, February.
    9. Efthymios Argyropoulos & Nikolaos Elias & Dimitris Smyrnakis & Elias Tzavalis, 2021. "Can country-specific interest rate factors explain the forward premium anomaly?," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 45(2), pages 252-269, April.
    10. Wojnilower, Joshua, 2018. "On credit and output: Is the supply of credit relevant?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 38-56.
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