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Sophisticated and small versus simple and sizeable: When does it pay off to introduce drifting coefficients in Bayesian VARs?

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Feldkircher

    (Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB))

  • Florian Huber

    (Department of Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business)

  • Gregor Kastner

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Vienna University of Economics and Business)

Abstract

We assess the relationship between model size and complexity in the time-varying parameter VAR framework via thorough predictive exercises for the Euro Area, the United Kingdom and the United States. It turns out that sophisticated dynamics through drifting coefficients are important in small data sets while simpler models tend to perform better in sizeable data sets. To combine best of both worlds, novel shrinkage priors help to mitigate the curse of dimensionality, resulting in competitive forecasts for all scenarios considered. Furthermore, we discuss dynamic model selection to improve upon the best performing individual model for each point in time.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Feldkircher & Florian Huber & Gregor Kastner, 2018. "Sophisticated and small versus simple and sizeable: When does it pay off to introduce drifting coefficients in Bayesian VARs?," Department of Economics Working Papers wuwp260, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wiwwuw:wuwp260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Korobilis, Dimitris, 2013. "Hierarchical shrinkage priors for dynamic regressions with many predictors," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 43-59.
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    5. Korobilis, Dimitris, 2014. "Data-based priors for vector autoregressions with drifting coefficients," SIRE Discussion Papers 2014-022, Scottish Institute for Research in Economics (SIRE).
    6. Florian Huber & Martin Feldkircher, 2019. "Adaptive Shrinkage in Bayesian Vector Autoregressive Models," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 27-39, January.
    7. Giorgio E. Primiceri, 2005. "Time Varying Structural Vector Autoregressions and Monetary Policy," Review of Economic Studies, Oxford University Press, vol. 72(3), pages 821-852.
    8. A. Bhattacharya & D. B. Dunson, 2011. "Sparse Bayesian infinite factor models," Biometrika, Biometrika Trust, vol. 98(2), pages 291-306.
    9. Kastner, Gregor, 2016. "Dealing with Stochastic Volatility in Time Series Using the R Package stochvol," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 69(i05).
    10. Kastner, Gregor & Frühwirth-Schnatter, Sylvia, 2014. "Ancillarity-sufficiency interweaving strategy (ASIS) for boosting MCMC estimation of stochastic volatility models," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 408-423.
    11. Korobilis, D & Pettenuzzo, D, 2016. "Adaptive Minnesota Prior for High-Dimensional Vector Autoregressions," Essex Finance Centre Working Papers 18626, University of Essex, Essex Business School.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Pfarrhofer, Michael, 2019. "Measuring international uncertainty using global vector autoregressions with drifting parameters," Working Papers in Economics 2019-3, University of Salzburg.
    2. Annalisa Cadonna & Sylvia Fruhwirth-Schnatter & Peter Knaus, 2019. "Triple the gamma -- A unifying shrinkage prior for variance and variable selection in sparse state space and TVP models," Papers 1912.03100, arXiv.org.
    3. Tsionas, Mike G. & Izzeldin, Marwan & Trapani, Lorenzo, 2022. "Estimation of large dimensional time varying VARs using copulas," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    4. Niko Hauzenberger, 2020. "Flexible Mixture Priors for Large Time-varying Parameter Models," Papers 2006.10088, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2020.
    5. Annalisa Cadonna & Sylvia Frühwirth-Schnatter & Peter Knaus, 2020. "Triple the Gamma—A Unifying Shrinkage Prior for Variance and Variable Selection in Sparse State Space and TVP Models," Econometrics, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-36, May.
    6. Sylvia Fruhwirth-Schnatter & Peter Knaus, 2022. "Sparse Bayesian State-Space and Time-Varying Parameter Models," Papers 2207.12147, arXiv.org.
    7. Florian Huber & Michael Pfarrhofer & Philipp Piribauer, 2020. "A multi‐country dynamic factor model with stochastic volatility for euro area business cycle analysis," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(6), pages 911-926, September.
    8. Hauzenberger, Niko, 2021. "Flexible Mixture Priors for Large Time-varying Parameter Models," Econometrics and Statistics, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 87-108.
    9. Niko Hauzenberger & Michael Pfarrhofer, 2021. "Bayesian State‐Space Modeling for Analyzing Heterogeneous Network Effects of US Monetary Policy," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 123(4), pages 1261-1291, October.
    10. Crespo Cuaresma, Jesús & Huber, Florian & Onorante, Luca, 2020. "Fragility and the effect of international uncertainty shocks," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    11. Florian Huber & Gary Koop & Michael Pfarrhofer, 2020. "Bayesian Inference in High-Dimensional Time-varying Parameter Models using Integrated Rotated Gaussian Approximations," Papers 2002.10274, arXiv.org.
    12. Christian Hotz‐Behofsits & Florian Huber & Thomas Otto Zörner, 2018. "Predicting crypto‐currencies using sparse non‐Gaussian state space models," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(6), pages 627-640, September.
    13. Gupta, Rangan & Huber, Florian & Piribauer, Philipp, 2020. "Predicting international equity returns: Evidence from time-varying parameter vector autoregressive models," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    14. Michael Pfarrhofer & Philipp Piribauer, 2018. "Flexible shrinkage in high-dimensional Bayesian spatial autoregressive models," Papers 1805.10822, arXiv.org.
    15. Michael Pfarrhofer, 2020. "Forecasts with Bayesian vector autoregressions under real time conditions," Papers 2004.04984, arXiv.org.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Global-local shrinkage priors; density predictions; hierarchical modeling; stochastic volatility; dynamic model selection;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C30 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - General
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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