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Measuring the output gap using stochastic model specification search

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  • Joshua C C Chan
  • Angelia L Grant

Abstract

It is well known that different specification choices can give starkly different output gap estimates. To account for model uncertainty, we average estimates over a wide variety of popular specifications using stochastic model specification search. In particular, we consider three types of specification choices: sets of variables used in the analysis, output trend specifications and distributional assumptions. Using US data, we find that the unemployment gap is useful in estimating the output gap, but conditional on the unemployment gap, the inflation gap no longer depends on the output gap. Our results show a steady decline in trend output growth throughout the sample, and the estimate at the end of our sample is only about 1%. Moreover, data favor t over Gaussian distributed innovations, suggesting the relatively frequent occurrence of extreme events.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua C C Chan & Angelia L Grant, 2017. "Measuring the output gap using stochastic model specification search," CAMA Working Papers 2017-02, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:een:camaaa:2017-02
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    File URL: https://cama.crawford.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/publication/cama_crawford_anu_edu_au/2017-01/2_2017_chan_grant.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Montagnoli, Alberto & Mouratidis, Konstantinos & Whyte, Kemar, 2021. "Assessing the cyclical behaviour of bank capital buffers in a finance-augmented macro-economy," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    2. Manuel González-Astudillo & John M. Roberts, 2022. "When are trend–cycle decompositions of GDP reliable?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 62(5), pages 2417-2460, May.
    3. Ramis Khabibullin, 2019. "What measures of real economic activity slack are helpful for forecasting Russian inflation?," Bank of Russia Working Paper Series wps50, Bank of Russia.
    4. James Morley & Benjamin Wong, 2020. "Estimating and accounting for the output gap with large Bayesian vector autoregressions," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(1), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Fu, Bowen, 2020. "Is the slope of the Phillips curve time-varying? Evidence from unobserved components models," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 320-340.
    6. Nataliia Ostapenko, 2022. "Do output gap estimates improve inflation forecasts in Slovakia?," Working and Discussion Papers WP 4/2022, Research Department, National Bank of Slovakia.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    model averaging; trend inflation; potential output; NAIRU; Okun’s law; Phillips curve;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles

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