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Structural scenario analysis with SVARs

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  • Antolín-Díaz, Juan
  • Petrella, Ivan
  • Rubio-Ramírez, Juan F.

Abstract

Macroeconomists constructing conditional forecasts often face a choice between taking a stand on the details of a fully-specified structural model or relying on correlations from VARs and remaining silent about underlying causal mechanisms. This paper develops tools for constructing economically meaningful scenarios with structural VARs, and proposes a metric to assess and compare their plausibility. We provide a unified treatment of conditional forecasting and structural scenario analysis, relating them to entropic tilting. A careful treatment of uncertainty makes our methods suitable for density forecasting and risk assessment. Two applications illustrate our methods: assessing interest-rate forward guidance and stress-testing bank profitability.

Suggested Citation

  • Antolín-Díaz, Juan & Petrella, Ivan & Rubio-Ramírez, Juan F., 2021. "Structural scenario analysis with SVARs," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 798-815.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:moneco:v:117:y:2021:i:c:p:798-815
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoneco.2020.06.001
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Conditional forecasts; SVARs; Bayesian methods; Forward guidance; Stress testing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • E47 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications

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