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Convergences of prices and rates of inflation

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Author Info
Fabio Busetti () (Bank of Italy)
Silvia Fabiani () (Bank of Italy)
Andrew Harvey () (Cambridge University)

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Abstract

We consider how unit root and stationarity tests can be used to study the convergence properties of prices and rates of inflation. Special attention is paid to the issue of whether a mean should be extracted in carrying out unit root and stationarity tests and whether there is an advantage to adopting a new (Dickey-Fuller) unit root test based on deviations from the last observation. The asymptotic distribution of the new test statistic is given and Monte Carlo simulation experiments show that the test yields considerable power gains for highly persistent autoregressive processes with relatively large initial conditions, the case of primary interest for analysing convergence. We argue that the joint use of unit root and stationarity tests in levels and first differences allows the researcher to distinguish between series that are converging and series that have already converged, and we set out a strategy to establish whether convergence occurs in relative prices or just in rates of inflation. The tests are applied to the monthly series of the Consumer Price Index in the Italian regional capitals over the period 1970-2003. It is found that all pairwise contrasts of inflation rates have converged or are in the process of converging. Only 24% of price level contrasts appear to be converging, but a multivariate test provides strong evidence of overall convergence.

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Paper provided by Bank of Italy, Economic Research Department in its series Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) with number 575.

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Date of creation: Feb 2006
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Handle: RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_575_06

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Related research
Keywords: Dickey-Fuller test; initial condition; law of one price; stationarity test;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions
C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions

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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Elena Pesavento & Barbara Rossi, 2006. "Impulse Responses Confidence Intervals for Persistent Data: What Have We Learned?," Emory Economics 0603, Department of Economics, Emory University (Atlanta). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Christian Dreger & Reinhold Kosfeld, 2007. "Do Regional Price Levels Converge?: Paneleconometric Evidence Based on German Districts," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 754, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research. [Downloadable!]
  3. Carla Massidda & Paolo Mattana, 2008. "Regional productivity and relative prices dynamics: the case of Italy," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 945-966, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Andrea Vaona & Guido Ascari, 2007. "Regional Inflation Persistence: Evidence from Italy," Quaderni della facoltà di Scienze economiche dell'Università di Lugano 0807, Biblioteca universitaria di Lugano (University Library of Lugano). [Downloadable!]
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