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A Practitioner's Guide to Lag-Order Selection for Vector Autoregressions

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Author Info
Ivanov, Ventzislav
Kilian, Lutz

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Abstract

An important preliminary step in impulse response analysis is to select the vector autoregressive (VAR) lag order from the data, yet little is known about the implications of alternative lag order selection criteria for the accuracy of the impulse response estimates. In this Paper, we compare the criteria most commonly used in applied work in terms of the mean-squared error of the implied impulse response estimates. We conclude that for monthly VAR models, the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) produces the most accurate structural and semi-structural impulse response estimates for realistic sample sizes. For quarterly VAR models, the Hannan-Quinn Criterion (HQC) appears to be the most accurate criterion with the exception of sample sizes smaller than 120, for which the Schwarz Information Criterion (SIC) is more accurate. For persistence profiles based on quarterly vector error correction (VEC) models, the SIC is the most accurate criterion for all realistic sample sizes. Sequential Lagrange-multiplier and likelihood ratio tests cannot be recommended.

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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 2685.

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Date of creation: Jan 2001
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Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:2685

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Related research
Keywords: Impulse Responses; Lag Orders; Model Selection; VAR; VEC;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions
C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation

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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. Canova, Fabio, 2002. "G-7 Inflation Forecasts," CEPR Discussion Papers 3283, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Jonathan McCarthy & Egon Zakrajsek, 2003. "Inventory dynamics and business cycles: what has changed?," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2003-26, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Fabio Canova, 2002. "G-7 inflation forecasts," Working Paper Series 151, European Central Bank. [Downloadable!]
  4. Massimo Guidolin & Allan Timmerman, 2005. "Term structure of risk under alternative econometric specifications," Working Papers 2005-001, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
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