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Fast and Order-invariant Inference in Bayesian VARs with Non-Parametric Shocks

Author

Listed:
  • Florian Huber

    (University of Salzburg and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA))

  • Gary Koop

    (University of Strathclyde)

Abstract

The shocks which hit macroeconomic models such as Vector Autoregressions (VARs) have the potential to be non-Gaussian, exhibiting asymmetries and fat tails. This consideration motivates the VAR developed in this paper which uses a Dirichlet process mixture (DPM) to model the shocks. However, we do not follow the obvious strategy of simply modelling the VAR errors with a DPM since this would lead to computationally infeasible Bayesian inference in larger VARs and potentially a sensitivity to the way the variables are ordered in the VAR. Instead we develop a particular additive error structure inspired by Bayesian nonparametric treatments of random effects in panel data models. We show that this leads to a model which allows for computationally fast and order-invariant inference in large VARs with nonparametric shocks. Our empirical results with nonparametric VARs of various dimensions shows that nonparametric treatment of the VAR errors is particularly useful in periods such as the financial crisis and the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Huber & Gary Koop, 2023. "Fast and Order-invariant Inference in Bayesian VARs with Non-Parametric Shocks," Working Papers 2309, University of Strathclyde Business School, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:str:wpaper:2309
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bayesian VARs; infinite mixtures; fast estimation; Markov chain Monte Carlo.;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods

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