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Google search-based metrics, policy-related uncertainty and macroeconomic conditions

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  • Michael Donadelli

Abstract

We propose three novel measures of policy-related uncertainty based on the volume of Google searches for ( i ) 'US stock market'; ( ii ) 'US politics'; ( iii ) 'US Fed'. In a VAR context, we find that a Google-search-based uncertainty shock has sizable adverse effects on US macroeconomic conditions. In particular, it produces ( i ) a drop in industrial production, consumer sentiment, equity prices, long-term rates and consumer credit; ( ii ) a rise in the unemployment rate. These effects are nearly identical to those generated by a shock to a standard policy-related uncertainty indicator. Our empirical findings suggest that a rise in the volume of internet searches for economic policy-related topics is a symptom of increasing uncertainty. It turns out that the proposed Google-search-based metrics meet standard policy-related uncertainty indicators.

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  • Michael Donadelli, 2015. "Google search-based metrics, policy-related uncertainty and macroeconomic conditions," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(10), pages 801-807, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:22:y:2015:i:10:p:801-807
    DOI: 10.1080/13504851.2014.978070
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Donadelli & Luca Gerotto & Marcella Lucchetta & Daniela Arzu, 2018. "Migration Fear, Uncertainty, and Macroeconomic Dynamics," Working Papers 2018:29, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    2. M. E. Bontempi & M. Frigeri & R. Golinelli & M. Squadrani, 2019. "Uncertainty, Perception and the Internet," Working Papers wp1134, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    3. Michele Costola & Matteo Iacopini & Carlo R. M. A. Santagiustina, 2020. "Public Concern and the Financial Markets during the COVID-19 outbreak," Papers 2005.06796, arXiv.org.
    4. repec:ptu:bdpart:r201706 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Donadelli, Michael & Gerotto, Luca, 2019. "Non-macro-based Google searches, uncertainty, and real economic activity," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 111-142.
    6. Ichev, Riste & Marinč, Matej, 2018. "Stock prices and geographic proximity of information: Evidence from the Ebola outbreak," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 153-166.
    7. Donadelli, Michael & Lalanne, Marie, 2020. "Sex and “the City”: Financial stress and online pornography consumption," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    8. Cristina Manteu & Sara Serra, 2017. "Impact of uncertainty measures on the Portuguese economy," Working Papers w201709, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    9. Tamgac, Unay, 2021. "Emerging market exchange rates during quantitative tapering: The effect of US and domestic news," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    10. Mehwish Aziz Khan & Eatzaz Ahmad, 2018. "Measurement of Investor Sentiment and Its Bi-Directional Contemporaneous and Lead–Lag Relationship with Returns: Evidence from Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-20, December.
    11. Ali, Mohsin & Alam, Nafis & Rizvi, Syed Aun R., 2020. "Coronavirus (COVID-19) — An epidemic or pandemic for financial markets," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    12. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Chen, Mei-Ping, 2021. "The effects of investor attention and policy uncertainties on cross-border country exchange-traded fund returns," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 830-852.
    13. Netšunajev, Aleksei & Glass, Katharina, 2017. "Uncertainty and employment dynamics in the euro area and the US," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 48-62.
    14. Çekin, Semih Emre & Hkiri, Besma & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Gupta, Rangan, 2020. "The relationship between monetary policy and uncertainty in advanced economies: Evidence from time- and frequency-domains," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 70-87.
    15. Abiad, Abdul & Qureshi, Irfan A., 2023. "The macroeconomic effects of oil price uncertainty," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    16. Cristina Manteu & Sara Serra, 2017. "Impact of uncertainty measures on the Portuguese economy," Economic Bulletin and Financial Stability Report Articles and Banco de Portugal Economic Studies, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    17. Michele Costola & Michael Donadelli & Luca Gerotto & Ivan Gufler, 2022. "Global risks, the macroeconomy, and asset prices," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(5), pages 2357-2388, November.
    18. Jan Prüser & Alexander Schlösser, 2020. "The effects of economic policy uncertainty on European economies: evidence from a TVP-FAVAR," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 2889-2910, June.
    19. Qin, Meng & Su, Chi-Wei & Tao, Ran, 2021. "BitCoin: A new basket for eggs?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 896-907.
    20. Szczygielski, Jan Jakub & Charteris, Ailie & Obojska, Lidia, 2023. "Do commodity markets catch a cold from stock markets? Modelling uncertainty spillovers using Google search trends and wavelet coherence," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    21. Donadelli, Michael & Gufler, Ivan & Pellizzari, Paolo, 2020. "The macro and asset pricing implications of rising Italian uncertainty: Evidence from a novel news-based macroeconomic policy uncertainty index," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    22. Abay,Kibrom A. & Hirfrfot,Kibrom Tafere & Woldemichael,Andinet, 2020. "Winners and Losers from COVID-19 : Global Evidence from Google Search," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9268, The World Bank.
    23. Costola, Michele & Iacopini, Matteo & Santagiustina, Carlo R.M.A., 2021. "Google search volumes and the financial markets during the COVID-19 outbreak," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    24. Spyridon Boikos & Eirini Makantasi & Theodore Panagiotidis, 2023. "Macroeconomic Uncertainty Indices for European Countries," Notas Económicas, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, issue 57, pages 7-56, December.
    25. Prüser, Jan & Schlösser, Alexander, 2017. "The effects of economic policy uncertainty on European economies: Evidence from a TVP-FAVAR," Ruhr Economic Papers 708, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.

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