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Bayesian prior elicitation in DSGE models: Macro- vs micropriors

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  • Lombardi, Marco J.
  • Nicoletti, Giulio

Abstract

Bayesian approaches to the estimation of DSGE models are becoming increasingly popular. Prior knowledge is normally formalized either directly on deep parameters' values (‘microprior’) or indirectly, on macroeconomic indicators, e.g. moments of observable variables (‘macroprior’). We introduce a non-parametric macroprior which is elicited from impulse response functions and assess its performance in shaping posterior estimates. We find that using a macroprior can lead to substantially different posterior estimates. We probe into the details of our result, showing that model misspecification is likely to be responsible of that. In addition, we assess to what extent the use of macropriors is impaired by the need of calibrating some hyperparameters.

Suggested Citation

  • Lombardi, Marco J. & Nicoletti, Giulio, 2012. "Bayesian prior elicitation in DSGE models: Macro- vs micropriors," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 294-313.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:36:y:2012:i:2:p:294-313
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2011.09.010
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    2. Massimo Minesso Ferrari, 2020. "The Real Effects of Endogenous Defaults on the Interbank Market," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 6(3), pages 411-439, November.
    3. Gelain, Paolo & Manganelli, Simone, 2020. "Monetary policy with judgment," Working Paper Series 2404, European Central Bank.
    4. Dario Caldara & Richard Harrison & Anna Lipinska, 2012. "Practical tools for policy analysis in DSGE models with missing channels," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2012-72, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    5. Fasolo, Angelo M. & Araujo, Eurilton & Jorge, Marcos Valli & Kornelius, Alexandre & Marinho, Leonardo Sousa Gomes, 2024. "Brazilian macroeconomic dynamics redux: Shocks, frictions, and unemployment in SAMBA model," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 5(2).
    6. Dario Caldara & Richard Harrison & Anna Lipińska, 2014. "Practical Tools For Policy Analysis In Dsge Models With Missing Shocks," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(7), pages 1145-1163, November.
    7. Sacht, Stephen, 2014. "Identification of prior information via moment-matching," Economics Working Papers 2014-04, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    DSGE models; Bayesian estimation; Prior distribution; Impulse response function;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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