This paper proposes asymptotically point optimal tests for parameter instability under the feasible circumstance that the researcher has little information about the unstable parameter process and the error distribution. The shape of the unstable parameter process is not identified but is asymptotically described by the Winer process, which is weak enough to cover a wide range of structural breaks and time varying parameter processes. I first derive a test under known error distribution, and show that the test is asymptotically equivalent to likelihood ratio tests for correctly identified unstable parameter processes under suitable conditions. The test is then extended to semiparametric models in which the underlying distribution is unknown but treated as an infinite dimensional nuisance parameter. An adaptive test is shown to be attainable without further restrictive conditions on the error distribution, which implies that the semiparametric power envelope is asymptotically equivalent to that of parametric models.
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by University of Connecticut, Department of Economics in its series Working papers with number
2008-40.
Length: 43 pages Date of creation: Oct 2008 Date of revision:
Aug 2009 Handle: RePEc:uct:uconnp:2008-40
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