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Yield Curve and Recession Forecasting in a Machine Learning Framework

Author

Listed:
  • Periklis Gogas

    (Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Economics)

  • Theophilos Papadimitriou

    (Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Economics)

  • Maria- Artemis Matthaiou

    (Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Economics)

  • Efthymia Chrysanthidou

    (Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Economics)

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the forecasting ability of the yield curve in terms of the U.S. real GDP cycle. More specifically, within a Machine Learning (ML) framework, we use data from a variety of short (treasury bills) and long term interest rates (bonds) for the period from 1976:Q3 to 2011:Q4 in conjunction with the real GDP for the same period, to create a model that can successfully forecast output fluctuations (inflation and output gaps) around its long-run trend. We focus our attention in correctly forecasting the instances of output gaps referred for the purposes of our analysis here as recessions. In this effort, we applied a Support Vector Machines (SVM) technique for classification. The results show that we can achieve an overall forecasting accuracy of 66,7% and a 100% accuracy in forecasting recessions.

Suggested Citation

  • Periklis Gogas & Theophilos Papadimitriou & Maria- Artemis Matthaiou & Efthymia Chrysanthidou, 2014. "Yield Curve and Recession Forecasting in a Machine Learning Framework," DUTH Research Papers in Economics 8-2014, Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:duthrp:2014_008
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    Cited by:

    1. Vrontos, Spyridon D. & Galakis, John & Vrontos, Ioannis D., 2021. "Modeling and predicting U.S. recessions using machine learning techniques," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 647-671.
    2. Cheng-Feng Wu & Shian-Chang Huang & Chei-Chang Chiou & Tsangyao Chang & Yung-Chih Chen, 2022. "The Relationship Between Economic Growth and Electricity Consumption: Bootstrap ARDL Test with a Fourier Function and Machine Learning Approach," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 60(4), pages 1197-1220, December.
    3. Cyrille Lenoel & Garry Young, 2020. "Real-time turning point indicators: Review of current international practices," Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE) Discussion Papers ESCoE DP-2020-05, Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE).
    4. Oleksandr Castello & Marina Resta, 2025. "Optimal Time Varying Parameters in Yield Curve Modeling and Forecasting: A Simulation Study on BRICS Countries," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 65(4), pages 2081-2113, April.
    5. Maas, Benedikt, 2019. "Nowcasting and forecasting US recessions: Evidence from the Super Learner," MPRA Paper 96408, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Plakandaras, Vasilios & Gupta, Rangan & Gogas, Periklis & Papadimitriou, Theophilos, 2015. "Forecasting the U.S. real house price index," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 259-267.
    7. David Mayer-Foulkes, 2018. "Efficient Urbanization for Mexican Development," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(10), pages 1-1, October.
    8. Knut Lehre Seip & Dan Zhang, 2021. "The Yield Curve as a Leading Indicator: Accuracy and Timing of a Parsimonious Forecasting Model," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-16, May.
    9. Ranik Raaen Wahlstrøm & Florentina Paraschiv & Michael Schürle, 2022. "A Comparative Analysis of Parsimonious Yield Curve Models with Focus on the Nelson-Siegel, Svensson and Bliss Versions," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 59(3), pages 967-1004, March.
    10. Kian Tehranian, 2023. "Can Machine Learning Catch Economic Recessions Using Economic and Market Sentiments?," Papers 2308.16200, arXiv.org.
    11. Yasmeen Idilbi-Bayaa & Mahmoud Qadan, 2021. "Forecasting Commodity Prices Using the Term Structure," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-39, December.
    12. Söhnke M. Bartram & Jürgen Branke & Mehrshad Motahari, 2020. "Artificial intelligence in asset management," Working Papers 20202001, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    13. Lulin Xu & Zhongwu Li, 2021. "A New Appraisal Model of Second-Hand Housing Prices in China’s First-Tier Cities Based on Machine Learning Algorithms," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 57(2), pages 617-637, February.
    14. Theodore Syriopoulos & Michael Tsatsaronis & Ioannis Karamanos, 2021. "Support Vector Machine Algorithms: An Application to Ship Price Forecasting," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 57(1), pages 55-87, January.
    15. Plakandaras, Vasilios & Gogas, Periklis & Papadimitriou, Theophilos & Gupta, Rangan, 2019. "A re-evaluation of the term spread as a leading indicator," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 476-492.
    16. Christos Alexakis & Michael Dowling & Konstantinos Eleftheriou & Michael Polemis, 2021. "Textual Machine Learning: An Application to Computational Economics Research," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 57(1), pages 369-385, January.
    17. Andreas Psimopoulos, 2020. "Forecasting Economic Recessions Using Machine Learning:An Empirical Study in Six Countries," South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economics, Association of Economic Universities of South and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region, vol. 18(1), pages 40-99.
    18. Bouri, Elie & Demirer, Riza & Gupta, Rangan & Wohar, Mark E., 2021. "Gold, platinum and the predictability of bond risk premia," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    19. Mirza, Nawazish & Rizvi, Syed Kumail Abbas & Naqvi, Bushra & Umar, Muhammad, 2024. "Inflation prediction in emerging economies: Machine learning and FX reserves integration for enhanced forecasting," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    20. Jaehyuk Choi & Desheng Ge & Kyu Ho Kang & Sungbin Sohn, 2023. "Yield spread selection in predicting recession probabilities," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(7), pages 1772-1785, November.
    21. N. Loukeris & I. Eleftheriadis & E. Livanis, 2016. "The Portfolio Heuristic Optimisation System (PHOS)," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 48(4), pages 627-648, December.
    22. Emmanouil Sofianos & Christos Alexakis & Periklis Gogas & Theophilos Papadimitriou, 2025. "Machine learning forecasting in the macroeconomic environment: the case of the US output gap," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 1-19, February.
    23. Cepni, Oguzhan & Gupta, Rangan & Karahan, Cenk C. & Lucey, Brian, 2022. "Oil price shocks and yield curve dynamics in emerging markets," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 613-623.
    24. Jaehyuk Choi & Desheng Ge & Kyu Ho Kang & Sungbin Sohn, 2021. "Yield Spread Selection in Predicting Recession Probabilities: A Machine Learning Approach," Papers 2101.09394, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2022.
    25. Tölö, Eero, 2020. "Predicting systemic financial crises with recurrent neural networks," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects

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