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A New Methodology for Estimating the Output Gap in the United States

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  • Ali Alichi

Abstract

The gap between potential and actual output—the output gap—is a key variable for policymaking. This paper adapts the methodology developed in Blagrave and others (2015) to estimate the path of output gap in the U.S. economy. The results show that the output gap has considerably shrunk since the Great Recession, but still remains negative. While the results are more robust than other existing methodologies, there is still significant uncertainty surrounding the estimates.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali Alichi, 2015. "A New Methodology for Estimating the Output Gap in the United States," IMF Working Papers 2015/144, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2015/144
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    3. Mohamed A. M. Sallam & Mohamed R. Neffati, 2019. "Estimation and Analysis of the Output Gap for the Saudi Economy; Econometric Study (1970-2016)," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 9(2), pages 267-284, February.
    4. Byron Botha & Franz Ruch & Rudi Steinbach, 2018. "Shortlived supply shocks to potential growth," Working Papers 8605, South African Reserve Bank.
    5. Wang, Xi & Liu, Ying & Chen, Zhongfei, 2022. "Monetary policy dysregulation with data distortion," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Cobus Vermeulen, 2023. "The inherent uncertainties in output gap estimation a South African perspective," Working Papers 11051, South African Reserve Bank.
    7. Ashwin Madhou & Tayushma Sewak & Imad Moosa & Vikash Ramiah & Florian Gerth, 2021. "Towards Full-Fledged Inflation Targeting Monetary Policy Regime in Mauritius," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Sébastien Charles & Thomas Dallery & Jonathan Marie, 2018. "Some Thoughts and Proposals Concerning the Concept of Output Gap [Réflexions et suggestions autour du concept d’output gap]," Post-Print hal-02335667, HAL.
    9. Ali Alichi & Olivier Bizimana & Silvia Domit & Emilio Fernández Corugedo & Mr. Douglas Laxton & Kadir Tanyeri & Hou Wang & Fan Zhang, 2015. "Multivariate Filter Estimation of Potential Output for the Euro Area and the United States," IMF Working Papers 2015/253, International Monetary Fund.
    10. Shvets, Serhii, 2019. "Parametric early warning system model for Ukraine," MPRA Paper 103819, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Wolassa Lawisso Kumo, 2017. "Working Paper 263 - Factor Productivity and Potential Output Growth in South Africa," Working Paper Series 2374, African Development Bank.
    12. J. Kemp & B. Smit, 2016. "Estimating and Explaining Changes in Potential Growth in South Africa," Studies in Economics and Econometrics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 21-38, December.
    13. Daniel Gros & Alessandro Liscai & Farzaneh Shamsfakhr, 2022. "Planned Fiscal Consolidation and Under-Estimated Multipliers: Revisiting the Evidence and Relevance for the Euro Area," EconPol Policy Reports 35, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    14. Voinea, Liviu, 2019. "The Post-Crisis Phillips Curve: A New Empirical Relationship between Wage and Inflation," GLO Discussion Paper Series 303, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    15. Bianca PĂUNA & George GEORGESCU, 2021. "EU’s CAM and Potential GDP Estimates. Some Inconsistent Results in the Case of Romania," Journal for Economic Forecasting, Institute for Economic Forecasting, vol. 0(1), pages 5-16, December.
    16. Arto Kovanen, 2019. "Wage Growth Puzzle and Capacity Utilization," Applied Economics and Finance, Redfame publishing, vol. 6(2), pages 15-31, March.
    17. Wolassa L. Kumo, 2022. "Working Paper 362 - Economic Growth, Total Factor Productivity and Output Gap in Sierra Leone," Working Paper Series 2488, African Development Bank.
    18. Sariola, Mikko, 2019. "An unobserved components model for Finland – Estimates of potential output and NAWRU," BoF Economics Review 2/2019, Bank of Finland.
    19. Barendra Kumar Bhoi & Harendra Kumar Behera, 2017. "India’s Potential Output Revisited," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 15(1), pages 101-120, March.
    20. Ali Alichi & Rania A. Al-Mashat & Hayk Avetisyan & Mr. Jaromir Benes & Olivier Bizimana & Aram Butavyan & Mr. Robert Ford & Narek Ghazaryan & Vahagn Grigoryan & Mane Harutyunyan & Anahit Hovhannisyan , 2018. "Estimates of Potential Output and the Neutral Rate for the U.S. Economy," IMF Working Papers 2018/152, International Monetary Fund.
    21. Mr. Niels-Jakob H Hansen & Mr. Joannes Mongardini & Fan Zhang, 2019. "Labor Market Slack and the Output Gap: The Case of Korea," IMF Working Papers 2019/167, International Monetary Fund.
    22. Nikolay Peykov, 2021. "Sectoral Output Gaps – Estimates for Bulgaria," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 1, pages 5-26, March.
    23. Silvio Michael de Azevedo Costa, 2016. "Structural Trends and Cycles in a DSGE Model for Brazil," Working Papers Series 434, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.

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