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US Interest Rates: Are Relations Stable?

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In this paper, we assess whether key relations between US interest rates have been stable over time. This is done by estimating trivariate hybrid time-varying parameter Bayesian VAR models with stochastic volatility for the three-month Treasury bill rate, the slope of the Treasury yield curve and the corporate bond-yield spread. As a methodological contribution, we also allow for disturbances with heavy tails. We analyse monthly data from April 1953 to February 2023 both within- and out-of-sample. Our results indicate that the relations have not been stable; more speci cally, there is evidence that the equation of the corporate bond-yield spread is subject to time variation in its parameters. We also nd that an increase in the corporate bond-yield spread decreases the risk free rate. Finally, we note that while allowing for heavy tails receives a fair amount of support within sample, it appears to be of more limited importance from a forecasting p

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  • Karlsson, Sune & Kiss, Tamás & Nguyen, Hoang & Österholm, Pär, 2024. "US Interest Rates: Are Relations Stable?," Working Papers 2024:3, Örebro University, School of Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:oruesi:2024_003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joshua C. C. Chan & Eric Eisenstat, 2018. "Bayesian model comparison for time‐varying parameter VARs with stochastic volatility," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(4), pages 509-532, June.
    2. Kastner, Gregor & Frühwirth-Schnatter, Sylvia, 2014. "Ancillarity-sufficiency interweaving strategy (ASIS) for boosting MCMC estimation of stochastic volatility models," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 408-423.
    3. Geweke, J, 1993. "Bayesian Treatment of the Independent Student- t Linear Model," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 8(S), pages 19-40, Suppl. De.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: 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
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • E47 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
    • G17 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Financial Forecasting and Simulation

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