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Is the Short Rate Drift Actually Nonlinear?

Author

Listed:
  • David A. Chapman

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Neil D. Pearson

    (The Univerisity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

Virtually all existing continuous-time, single-factor term structure models are based on a short rate process that has a linear drift function. However, there is no strong a priori argument in favor of linearity, and Stanton (1997) and Ait-Sahalia (1996) employ nonparametric estimation techniques to conclude that the drift function of the short rate contains important nonlinearities. Comparatively little is known about the finite-sample properties of these estimators, particularly when they are applied to frequent sampling of a very persistent process, like short term interest rates. In this paper, we apply these estimators to simulated sample paths of a square-root diffusion. Although the drift function is linear, both estimators suggest nonlinearities of the type and magnitude reported in by Stanton (1997) and Ait-Sahalia (1996). These results, along with the results of a simple GMM estimation procedure applied to the Stanton and Ait-Sahalia data sets, imply that nonlinearity of the short rate drift is not a robust stylized fact.

Suggested Citation

  • David A. Chapman & Neil D. Pearson, 1998. "Is the Short Rate Drift Actually Nonlinear?," Finance 9808005, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpfi:9808005
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    Keywords

    term structure; continuous-time;

    JEL classification:

    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets

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