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Measuring nonfundamentalness for structural VARs

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  • Soccorsi, Stefano

Abstract

As nonfundamental vector moving averages do not have causal VAR representations, standard structural VAR methods are deemed inappropriate for recovering the economic shocks of general equilibrium models with nonfundamental reduced forms. In the previous literature it has been pointed out that, despite nonfundamentalness, structural VARs may still be good approximating models. I characterize nonfundamentalness as bias depending on the zeros of moving average filters. However, measuring the nonfundamental bias is not trivial because of the simultaneous occurrence of lag truncation bias. I propose a method to disentangle the bias based on population spectral density and derive a measure for the nonfundamental bias in population. In the application, I find that the SVAR exercises of Sims (2012) are accurate because the nonfundamental bias is mild.

Suggested Citation

  • Soccorsi, Stefano, 2016. "Measuring nonfundamentalness for structural VARs," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 86-101.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:71:y:2016:i:c:p:86-101
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2016.08.001
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    Cited by:

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    3. Iskrev, Nikolay, 2018. "Are asset price data informative about news shocks? A DSGE perspective," Working Paper Series 2161, European Central Bank.
    4. Mario Forni & Luca Gambetti & Luca Sala, 2016. "VAR Information and the Empirical Validation of DSGE Models," Center for Economic Research (RECent) 119, University of Modena and Reggio E., Dept. of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    5. Angelini, Giovanni & Sorge, Marco M., 2021. "Under the same (Chole)sky: DNK models, timing restrictions and recursive identification of monetary policy shocks," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    6. Paul Beaudry & Patrick Feve & Alain Guay & Franck Portier, 2019. "When is Nonfundamentalness in SVARs a Real Problem?," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 34, pages 221-243, October.
    7. Mirela S. Miescu & Haroon Mumtaz, 2019. "Proxy structural vector autoregressions, informational sufficiency and the role of monetary policy," Working Papers 894, Queen Mary University of London, School of Economics and Finance.
    8. Huiqin Jiang & Xiao Zhang & Xinxiao Shao & Jianqiang Bao, 2018. "How Do the Industrial Structure Optimization and Urbanization Development Affect Energy Consumption in Zhejiang Province of China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-12, June.
    9. Iskrev, Nikolay, 2019. "On the sources of information about latent variables in DSGE models," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 318-332.
    10. Tamara Teplova & Mikova Evgeniia & Qaiser Munir & Nataliya Pivnitskaya, 2023. "Black-Litterman model with copula-based views in mean-CVaR portfolio optimization framework with weight constraints," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 515-535, February.
    11. Nikolay Iskrev, 2021. "Spectral decomposition of the information about latent variables in dynamic macroeconomic models," Working Papers w202105, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    12. Matteo Barigozzi & Marc Hallin & Stefano Soccorsi, 2017. "Identification of Global and National Shocks in International Financial Markets via General Dynamic Factor Models," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2017-10, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Nonfundamentalness; SVAR; DSGE; News shocks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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