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Measurement with Minimal Theory

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  • Ellen McGrattan

    (Research Federal Reserve Bank of Mpls)

Abstract

A central debate in applied macroeconomics is whether statistical tools that use minimal identifying assumptions are useful for isolating promising models within a broad class. In this paper, I extend the analysis of Chari, Kehoe, and McGrattan (2005) to compare four statistical methods---structural VARs, VARMAs, unrestricted state space methods, and restricted state space methods---all applied to data from the same business cycle model. The objective is to determine which, if any, of the methods can successfully uncover moments of the underlying economy. The methods differ in the amount of a priori theory that is imposed, with structural VARs imposing minimal assumptions and restricted state space methods imposing the maximal. The moments that I focus on are those typically reported in the business cycle literature. Preliminary results show that the identifying assumptions of structural VARs, VARMAs, and unrestricted state space methods are too minimal: they cannot robustly uncover many of the moments business cycle researchers are interested in measuring.

Suggested Citation

  • Ellen McGrattan, 2006. "Measurement with Minimal Theory," 2006 Meeting Papers 338, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed006:338
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Harald Uhlig, 1995. "A toolkit for analyzing nonlinear dynamic stochastic models easily," Discussion Paper / Institute for Empirical Macroeconomics 101, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
    2. V. V. Chari & Patrick J. Kehoe & Ellen R. McGrattan, 2007. "Business Cycle Accounting," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 75(3), pages 781-836, May.
    3. Chari, V.V. & Kehoe, Patrick J. & McGrattan, Ellen R., 2008. "Are structural VARs with long-run restrictions useful in developing business cycle theory?," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(8), pages 1337-1352, November.
    4. Burmeister, Edwin & Wall, Kent D & Hamilton, James D, 1986. "Estimation of Unobserved Expected Monthly Inflation Using Kalman Filtering," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 4(2), pages 147-160, April.
    5. Uhlig, H.F.H.V.S., 1995. "A toolkit for analyzing nonlinear dynamic stochastic models easily," Discussion Paper 1995-97, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    6. Hannan, E J, 1976. "The Identification and Parameterization of ARMAX and State Space Forms," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 44(4), pages 713-723, July.
    7. Marimon, Ramon & Scott, Andrew (ed.), 1999. "Computational Methods for the Study of Dynamic Economies," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198294979, Decembrie.
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    Cited by:

    1. Victor Bystrov, 2020. "Identification and Estimation of Initial Conditions in Non-Minimal State-Space Models," Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, vol. 12(4), pages 413-429, December.
    2. Fève, Patrick & Beaudry, Paul & Collard, Fabrice & Guay, Alain & Portier, Franck, 2022. "Dynamic Identification in VARs," TSE Working Papers 22-1384, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    3. Canova, Fabio, 2014. "Bridging DSGE models and the raw data," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1-15.
    4. Charles Olivier Mao Takongmo, 2021. "DSGE models, detrending, and the method of moments," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(1), pages 67-99, January.
    5. Gianluca, MORETTI & Giulio, NICOLETTI, 2008. "Estimating DGSE models with long memory dynamics," Discussion Papers (ECON - Département des Sciences Economiques) 2008037, Université catholique de Louvain, Département des Sciences Economiques.
    6. Gianluca Moretti & Giulio Nicoletti, 2010. "Estimating DSGE models with unknown data persistence," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 750, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    7. Kascha, Christian & Mertens, Karel, 2009. "Business cycle analysis and VARMA models," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 267-282, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    time series; business cycles;

    JEL classification:

    • E3 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles
    • C1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General

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