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Econometric issues with Laubach and Williams’ estimates of the natural rate of interest

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  • Buncic, Daniel

    (Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University)

Abstract

Holston, Laubach and Williams’ (2017) estimates of the natural rate of interest are driven by the downward trending behaviour of ‘other factor’ z(t). I show that their implementation of Stock and Watson’s (1998) Median Unbiased Estimation (MUE) to determine the size of parameter λ(z) which drives this downward trend in z(t) is unsound. It cannot recover the ratio of interest λ(z) = a_r*σ(z)/σ(˜y) from MUE because of an ‘unnecessary’ misspecification in Holston et al.’s (2017) Stage 2 model. Moreover, their implementation of MUE on this ‘unnecessarily’ misspecified Stage 2 model spuriously amplifies the point estimate of λ(z). Using a simulation experiment, I show that their procedure generates excessively large estimates of λ(z) when applied to data generated from a model where the true λ(z) is zero. Correcting the misspecification in their Stage 2 model and the implementation of MUE leads to a substantially smaller (and highly insignificant) λ(z) point estimate, and thereby a more subdued downward trend in ‘other factor’ z(t) and the natural rate. The paper also discusses various other issues with Holston et al.’s (2017) model of the natural rate that make it unsuitable for policy analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Buncic, Daniel, 2020. "Econometric issues with Laubach and Williams’ estimates of the natural rate of interest," Working Paper Series 397, Sveriges Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden).
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:rbnkwp:0397
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dilian Vassilev, 2021. "A Model of Natural Interest Rate: The Case of Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 7, pages 46-72.
    3. Daniel Buncic, 2021. "On a Standard Method for Measuring the Natural Rate of Interest," Papers 2103.16452, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2022.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Natural rate of interest; Median Unbiased Estimation; Kalman Filter; spurious relations; misspecified econometric models;
    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
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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