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How forecastable is consumption growth? New evidence on the Hall random walk hypothesis

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  • Alan Viard

Abstract

I provide new evidence on the accuracy of the Hall random walk hypothesis that consumption growth is not predictable. Using 1971-94 US data, I find that consumption growth is substantially more predictable than previously believed. A regression of consumption growth on lagged nominal interest rate changes, lagged consumption growth and forecasts by Data Resources, Inc. yields an adjusted R-squared of 0.32. The empirical tests further suggest that excess sensitivity of consumption to current disposable income, rather than time-varying real interest rates or non-separable utility, is the most likely explanation for the predictability of consumption growth.

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  • Alan Viard, 1997. "How forecastable is consumption growth? New evidence on the Hall random walk hypothesis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(11), pages 1435-1446.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:29:y:1997:i:11:p:1435-1446
    DOI: 10.1080/000368497326264
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    Cited by:

    1. Masao Ogaki & Carmen M. Reinhart, 1998. "Measuring Intertemporal Substitution: The Role of Durable Goods," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 106(5), pages 1078-1098, October.
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    3. Jin Xu & Dongmin Kong, 2015. "Understanding The Household Consumption Behavior In Urban China," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 60(05), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Tomas Havranek & Anna Sokolova, 2016. "Do Consumers Really Follow a Rule of Thumb? Three Thousand Estimates from 130 Studies Say "Probably Not"," Working Papers 2016/08, Czech National Bank.
    5. Salman Ahmed Shaikh & Mohd Adib Ismail & Abdul Ghafar Ismail & Shahida Shahimi & Muhammad Hakimi Mohd. Shafiai, 2018. "An Empirical Investigation Of Consumption Behaviour In Selected Oic Countries," Journal of Islamic Monetary Economics and Finance, Bank Indonesia, vol. 4(1), pages 101-116, August.
    6. Fuad Hasanov, 2005. "Housing, Household Portfolio, and Intertemporal Elasticity of Substitution: Evidence from the Consumer Expenditure Survey," Macroeconomics 0510011, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Julian Thimme, 2017. "Intertemporal Substitution In Consumption: A Literature Review," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 226-257, February.
    8. Hamid Baghestani, 2013. "Evaluating Federal Reserve predictions of growth in consumer spending," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(13), pages 1637-1646, May.

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