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Seeing in the Dark: A Machine-Learning Approach to Nowcasting in Lebanon

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  • Mr. Andrew J Tiffin

Abstract

Macroeconomic analysis in Lebanon presents a distinct challenge. For example, long delays in the publication of GDP data mean that our analysis often relies on proxy variables, and resembles an extended version of the “nowcasting” challenge familiar to many central banks. Addressing this problem—and mindful of the pitfalls of extracting information from a large number of correlated proxies—we explore some recent techniques from the machine learning literature. We focus on two popular techniques (Elastic Net regression and Random Forests) and provide an estimation procedure that is intuitively familiar and well suited to the challenging features of Lebanon’s data.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Andrew J Tiffin, 2016. "Seeing in the Dark: A Machine-Learning Approach to Nowcasting in Lebanon," IMF Working Papers 2016/056, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2016/056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alessandro Girardi & Roberto Golinelli & Carmine Pappalardo, 2017. "The role of indicator selection in nowcasting euro-area GDP in pseudo-real time," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 79-99, August.
    2. Matta, Samer, 2014. "New coincident and leading indicators for the Lebanese economy," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6950, The World Bank.
    3. Hal R. Varian, 2014. "Big Data: New Tricks for Econometrics," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 28(2), pages 3-28, Spring.
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    Cited by:

    1. Longo, Luigi & Riccaboni, Massimo & Rungi, Armando, 2022. "A neural network ensemble approach for GDP forecasting," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    2. Marcelle Chauvet & Rafael R. S. Guimaraes, 2021. "Transfer Learning for Business Cycle Identification," Working Papers Series 545, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    3. Carlos León & Fabio Ortega, 2018. "Nowcasting Economic Activity with Electronic Payments Data: A Predictive Modeling Approach," Revista de Economía del Rosario, Universidad del Rosario, vol. 21(2), pages 381-407, December.
    4. Stankevich, Ivan, 2020. "Comparison of macroeconomic indicators nowcasting methods: Russian GDP case," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 59, pages 113-127.
    5. Botero García, Jesús Alonso & Hurtado, Alvaro & Montañez Herrera, Diego Fernando, 2021. "The productivity of the agricultural sector and its effects on economic growth: a CGE analysis," Conference papers 333318, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    6. Jin-Kyu Jung & Manasa Patnam & Anna Ter-Martirosyan, 2018. "An Algorithmic Crystal Ball: Forecasts-based on Machine Learning," IMF Working Papers 2018/230, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Hamdy Ahmad Aly Alhendawy & Mohammed Galal Abdallah Mostafa & Mohamed Ibrahim Elgohari & Ibrahim Abdalla Abdelraouf Mohamed & Nabil Medhat Arafat Mahmoud & Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Mater, 2023. "Determinants of Renewable Energy Production in Egypt New Approach: Machine Learning Algorithms," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(6), pages 679-689, November.
    8. Juan Tenorio & Wilder Pérez, 2023. "GDP nowcasting with Machine Learning and Unstructured Data to Peru," Working Papers 197, Peruvian Economic Association.
    9. Shafiullah Qureshi & Ba Chu & Fanny S. Demers, 2021. "Forecasting Canadian GDP Growth with Machine Learning," Carleton Economic Papers 21-05, Carleton University, Department of Economics.
    10. Juan Tenorio & Wilder Perez, 2024. "Monthly GDP nowcasting with Machine Learning and Unstructured Data," Papers 2402.04165, arXiv.org.
    11. Jaehyun Yoon, 2021. "Forecasting of Real GDP Growth Using Machine Learning Models: Gradient Boosting and Random Forest Approach," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 57(1), pages 247-265, January.
    12. Rafael R. S. Guimaraes, 2022. "Deep Learning Macroeconomics," Papers 2201.13380, arXiv.org.
    13. Sabyasachi Kar & Amaani Bashir & Mayank Jain, 2021. "New Approaches to Forecasting Growth and Inflation: Big Data and Machine Learning," IEG Working Papers 446, Institute of Economic Growth.
    14. Mr. Andrew J Tiffin, 2019. "Machine Learning and Causality: The Impact of Financial Crises on Growth," IMF Working Papers 2019/228, International Monetary Fund.
    15. Daniel Hopp, 2022. "Benchmarking Econometric and Machine Learning Methodologies in Nowcasting," Papers 2205.03318, arXiv.org.
    16. Maas, Benedikt, 2019. "Nowcasting and forecasting US recessions: Evidence from the Super Learner," MPRA Paper 96408, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Marijn A. Bolhuis & Brett Rayner, 2020. "Deus ex Machina? A Framework for Macro Forecasting with Machine Learning," IMF Working Papers 2020/045, International Monetary Fund.
    18. Juan Laborda & Sonia Ruano & Ignacio Zamanillo, 2023. "Multi-Country and Multi-Horizon GDP Forecasting Using Temporal Fusion Transformers," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-26, June.
    19. McSharry, Patrick & Mawejje, Joseph, 2024. "Estimating urban GDP growth using nighttime lights and machine learning techniques in data poor environments: The case of South Sudan," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    20. Marijn A. Bolhuis & Brett Rayner, 2020. "The More the Merrier? A Machine Learning Algorithm for Optimal Pooling of Panel Data," IMF Working Papers 2020/044, International Monetary Fund.
    21. Klaus-Peter Hellwig, 2018. "Overfitting in Judgment-based Economic Forecasts: The Case of IMF Growth Projections," IMF Working Papers 2018/260, International Monetary Fund.
    22. Denis Shibitov & Mariam Mamedli, 2021. "Forecasting Russian Cpi With Data Vintages And Machine Learning Techniques," Bank of Russia Working Paper Series wps70, Bank of Russia.
    23. Lisa-Cheree Martin, 2019. "Machine Learning vs Traditional Forecasting Methods: An Application to South African GDP," Working Papers 12/2019, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.

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