Economists often seek to estimate unobserved variables, representing “equilibrium” or “expected” values of economic variables, as benchmarks against which observed, realised values of these variables may be evaluated. Such comparisons are often used as economic policy indicators, for example the output gap, as measured by the ratio of actual to potential GDP, is commonly used as a measure of excess demand in assessing inflation pressures. To estimate these unobserved variables, a popular approach is the so-called semi-structural approach which includes: the Hodrick Prescott multivariate filter (developed by Laxton and Tetlow, 1992) and the Kalman filter (see, among others Harvey, 1992 and Cuthberson et al., 1992). This paper shows that the two approaches are closely linked, and specifically, it explains how to reproduce theHodrick Prescott multivariate filter using the Kalman filter. Being able to do so has at least two possible advantages. First, while the traditional HPMV filter ...

Les économistes cherchent fréquemment à estimer des variables non observables, utilisées comme valeur d’équilibre ou de référence. La différence entre cette valeur estimée et la valeur observée est ensuite un indicateur des tensions économiques : par exemple, l’écart de PIB, mesuré par la différence entre le PIB potentiel et le PIB courant, est souvent utilisé pour évaluer les pressions inflationnistes. Une approche fréquemment utilisée pour estimer des variables inobservées est l’approche dite semi-structurelle, qui englobe notamment le filtre de Hodrick Prescott multivarié (développé par Laxton et Tetlwo 1992) et le filtre de Kalman (voir, entre autres, Harvey 1992 et Cuthberson et al. 1992). Ce document présente le lien entre ces deux filtres et explique comment reproduire le filtre HP multivarié avec un filtre de Kalman. L’intérêt de cette démarche est double. Tout d’abord, alors qu’il n’est pas possible de produire une mesure de confiance d’un estimateur HP multivarié, le ...

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Paper provided by OECD Economics Department in its series OECD Economics Department Working Papers with number 240.

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Date of creation: 17 Apr 2000
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Handle: RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:240-en

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Keywords: unobserved component models Kalman filter standard errors NAIRU

Find related papers by JEL classification:
C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: General - - - Estimation
C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models
C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models
E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomics: Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution
E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation

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1. Beissinger, Thomas, 2003. "Strukturelle Arbeitslosigkeit in Europa : eine Bestandsaufnahme (Structural unemployment in Europe * an inventory)," Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 36(4), pages 411-427. [Downloadable!]
2. Edoardo Otranto, 2005. "Extraction of Common Signal from Series with Different Frequency," Econometrics 0502011, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
3. Carlos Cortinhas, 2006. "Asymmetry of Shocks and Convergence in Selected Asean Countries: A Dynamic Analysis," NIPE Working Papers 3/2006, NIPE - Universidade do Minho. [Downloadable!]
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5. L Christopher Plantier & Ozer Karagedikli, 2005. "Do so-called multivariate filters have better revision properties? An empirical analysis," Computing in Economics and Finance 2005 250, Society for Computational Economics. [Downloadable!]
6. Odile Chagny & Jörg Döpke, 2001. "Measures of the Output Gap in the Euro-Zone: An Empirical Assessment of Selected Methods," Kiel Working Papers 1053, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. [Downloadable!]
7. Nicoletta Batini & Jennifer Greenslade, 2003. "Measuring The UK Short-Run NAIRU," Discussion Papers 12, Monetary Policy Committee Unit, Bank of England. [Downloadable!]
   Other versions:
   • Nicoletta Batini & Jennifer V. Greenslade, 2006. "Measuring the UK short-run NAIRU," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 58(1), pages 28-49, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
8. Alvaro Aguiar & Manuel M. F. Martins, 2003. "Trend, cycle, and non-linear trade-off in the Euro Area 1970-2001," FEP Working Papers 122, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto. [Downloadable!]

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