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Investment forecasting with business survey data

Author

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  • Leandro D�Aurizio

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Stefano Iezzi

    (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

Business investment is a very important variable for short- and medium-term economic analysis, but it is volatile and difficult to predict. Qualitative business survey data are widely used to provide indicators of economic activity ahead of the publication of official data. Traditional indicators exploit only aggregate survey information, namely the proportions of respondents who report �up� and �down�. As a consequence, neither the heterogeneity of individual responses nor the panel dimension of microdata is used. We illustrate the use of a disaggregate panel-based indicator that exploits all information coming from two yearly industrial surveys carried out on the same sample of Italian manufacturing firms. Using the same sample allows us to match exactly investment plans and investment realisations for each firm and so estimate a panel data model linking individual investment realisations to investment intentions. The model generates a one-year-ahead forecast of investment variation that follows the aggregate dynamics with a limited bias.

Suggested Citation

  • Leandro D�Aurizio & Stefano Iezzi, 2011. "Investment forecasting with business survey data," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 832, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_832_11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Claire Giordano & Marco Marinucci & Andrea Silvestrini, 2022. "Assessing the usefulness of survey‐based data in forecasting firms' capital formation: Evidence from Italy," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(3), pages 491-513, April.
    2. Claire Giordano & Marco Marinucci & Andrea Silvestrini, 2021. "Forecasting corporate capital accumulation in Italy: the role of survey-based information," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 596, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    3. Gaiotti, Eugenio, 2013. "Credit availability and investment: Lessons from the “great recession”," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 212-227.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    investment plans; dynamic panel data model; forecasting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C50 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - General
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods

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