Showing papers on "Cointegration published in 2001"

Developments in the study of cointegrated economic variables

Abstract: At the least sophisticated level of economic theory lies the belief that certain pairs of economic variables should not diverge from each other by too great an extent, at least in the long-run. Thus, such variables may drift apart in the short-run or according to seasonal factors, but if they continue to be too far apart in the long-run, then economic forces, such as a market mechanism or government intervention, will begin to bring them together again. Examples of such variables are interest rates on assets of different maturities, prices of a commodity in different parts ofthe country, income and expenditure by local government and the value of sales and production costs of an industry. Other possible examples would be prices and wages, imports and exports, market prices of substitute commodities, money supply and prices and spot and future prices of a commodity. In some cases an economic theory involving equilibrium concepts might suggest close relations in the long-run, possibly with the addition of yet further variables. However, in each case the correctness of the beliefs about long-term relatedness is an empirical question. The idea underlying cointegration allows specification of models that capture part of such beliefs, at least for a particular type of variable that is frequently found to occur in macroeconomics. Since a concept such as the long-run is a dynamic one, the natural area for these ideas is that of time-series theory and analysis. It is thus necessary to start by introducing some relevant time series models. Consider a single series Xf, measured at equal intervals of time. Time series theory starts by considering the generating mechanism for the series. This mechanism should be able to generate att of the statistical properties of the series, or at very least the conditional mean, variance and temporal autocorrelations, that is the 'linear properties' of the series, conditional on past data. Some series appear to be 'stationary', which essentially implies that the linear properties exist and are timeinvariant. Here we are concerned with the weaker but more technical

Some recent developments in a concept of causality

Abstract: The paper considers three separate but related topics. (i) What is the relationship between causation and co-integration? If a pair of I(1) series are co-integration, there must be causation in at least one direction. An implication is that some tests of causation based on different series may have missed one source of causation. (ii) Is there a need for a definition of 'instantaneous causation' in a decision science? It is argued that no such definition is required. (iii) Can causality tests be used for policy evaluation? It is suggested that these tests are useful, but that they should be evaluated with case.

Cointegration and Threshold Adjustment

Abstract: This article proposes an extension to the Engle–Granger testing strategy by permitting asymmetry in the adjustment toward equilibrium in two different ways. We demonstrate that our test has good power and size properties over the Engle–Granger test when there are asymmetric departures from equilibrium. We consider an application—namely, whether there exists cointegration among interest rates for instruments with different maturities. This issue has been widely tested with mixed results. We argue that either cautious policy, or possibly opportunistic behavior on the part of the Federal Reserve implies that an equilibrium relationship between short- and long-term interest rates exists but that adjustments from disequilibrium are asymmetric in nature. Empirical tests using U.S. yields confirm the asymmetric nature of error correction among interest rates of different maturities.

Unit Roots, Cointegration, and Structural Change

Abstract: (2001). Unit Roots, Cointegration, and Structural Change. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 96, No. 453, pp. 339-355.

Spatial Market Integration in the Presence of Threshold Effects

Abstract: A large body of research has evaluated price linkages in spatially separate markets. Much recent research has applied models appropriate for nonstationary data. Such analyses have been criticized for their ignorance of transactions costs, which may inhibit price adjustments and thus affect tests of integration. This analysis utilizes threshold autoregression and cointegration models to account for a neutral band representing transactions costs. We evaluate daily price linkages among four corn and four soybean markets in North Carolina. Nonlinear impulse response functions are used to investigate dynamic patterns of adjustments to shocks. Our results confirm the presence of thresholds and indicate strong support for market integration, though adjustments following shocks may take many days to be complete. In every case, the threshold models suggest much faster adjustments in response to deviations from equilibrium than is the case when threshold behavior is ignored. A large amount of empirical research has evaluated the extent to which spatially separate markets are integrated. Though the term is used loosely in the literature, tests of “market integration” usually consider the extent to which shocks are transmitted among spatially separate markets. The integration of markets can have important implications for price discovery and the operation of the market since persistent deviations from integration may imply riskless profit opportunities for spatial traders.

Nonstationary panels, panel cointegration, and dynamic panels

Abstract: Includes a survey of the nonstationary panel literature including panel unit root tests, spurious panel regressions and panel cointegration tests. This book also provides developments in the estimation of dynamic panel data models using generalized method of moments. It is useful for practitioners and researchers working with panel data.

Threshold cointegration and nonlinear adjustment to the law of one price

Abstract: Previous studies investigating threshold behavior in real-exchange-rate and price difference data have used rather ad hoc statistical methods and have focused on univariate threshold models for relative prices. We utilize a general multivariate threshold cointegration model and develop a systematic testing and estimation strategy for this model, building on the work of others. Using Monte Carlo experiments, we systematically compare the use of univariate and multivariate techniques for testing threshold cointegration, estimating various threshold models, and testing specifications. We apply our methodology to a large set of U.S. disaggregated CPI data. We find evidence of threshold cointegration mainly for tradable goods. However, the type of threshold nonlinearity that we find generally does not support the transaction-cost view of commodity arbitrage.

Forecasting Non-Stationary Economic Time Series

Abstract: Economies evolve and are subject to sudden shifts precipitated by legislative changes, economic policy, major discoveries, and political turmoil. Macroeconometric models are a very imperfect tool for forecasting this highly complicated and changing process. Ignoring these factors leads to a wide discrepancy between theory and practice. In their second book on economic forecasting, Michael Clements and David Hendry ask why some practices seem to work empirically despite a lack of formal support from theory. After reviewing the conventional approach to economic forecasting, they look at the implications for causal modeling, present a taxonomy of forecast errors, and delineate the sources of forecast failure. They show that forecast-period shifts in deterministic factors--interacting with model misspecification, collinearity, and inconsistent estimation--are the dominant source of systematic failure. They then consider various approaches for avoiding systematic forecasting errors, including intercept corrections, differencing, co-breaking, and modeling regime shifts; they emphasize the distinction between equilibrium correction (based on cointegration) and error correction (automatically offsetting past errors). Their results on forecasting have wider implications for the conduct of empirical econometric research, model formulation, the testing of economic hypotheses, and model-based policy analyses.

Inflation and economic growth: evidence from four south asian countries

Abstract: This paper seeks to examine the relationship between inflation and GDP growth for four South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). A comparison of empirical evidence is obtained from the cointegration and error correction models using annual data collected from the IMF International Financial Statistics. The authors find evidence of a long-run positive relationship between GDP growth rate and inflation for all four countries. There are also significant feedbacks between inflation and economic growth. These results have important policy implications. Moderate inflation is helpful to growth, but faster economic growth feeds back into inflation. Thus, these countries are on a knife-edge.

Long and short term dynamic causal transmission amongst international stock markets

Abstract: This paper investigates the dynamic causal linkages amongst nine major international stock price indexes. In order to gauge the causal transmission patterns we employ very recent methods of: (i) vector error-correction modeling and (ii) level VAR modeling with possibly integrated and cointegrated processes, advocated by: (i) Toda and Phillips (Econometrica, 61 (1993) 1367) and (ii) Toda and Yamamoto (J. Econometrics, 66 (1995) 225), respectively. The paper illustrates how such methods may be appropriately augmented in a compatible fashion to unearth previously unfounded linkage properties inherent amongst a system of stock price indexes. In particular, we demonstrate that previous research, by using ordinary difference VARs, ignored an important component of linkages displayed purely over the long run. This untapped evidence essentially provides robust and very useful information to international financial analysts and investors. At a substantive level, results of this study tend to support the contention offered by several studies in the literature of significant interdependencies between the established OECD and the Asian markets, and also the leadership of the US and UK markets over the short and long run. The levels VAR, however, illustrate the Japanese market's influence as an additional long run leader. Findings seem to be plausible given that these three markets (US, UK and Japan) have consistently contributed over 75% of global stock market capitalization over the major part of the sample under consideration. At a methodological level, this analysis also provides a primer for the wealth of applied financial econometric research focusing on dynamic causal inference which involve systems containing possibly integrated and cointegrated processes.

Determination of Cointegrating Rank in Fractional Systems

Abstract: This paper develops methods of investigating the existence and extent of cointegration in fractionally integrated systems. We focus on stationary series, with some discussion of extension to nonstationarity. The setting is semiparametric, so that modelling is effectively confined to a neighbourhood of frequency zero. We first discuss the definition of fractional cointegration. The initial step of cointegration analysis entails partitioning the vector series into subsets with identical differencing parameters, by means of a sequence of hypopthesis tests. We then estimate cointegrating rank by analysing each subset individually. Two approaches are considered here, both of which are based on the eigenvalues of an estimate of the normalised spectral density matrix at frequency zero. An empirical application to a trivariate series of oil prices is included.

Asset storability and price discovery in commodity futures markets: A new look

Abstract: This article examines the price discovery performance of futures markets for storable and nonstorable commodities in the long run, allowing for the compounding factor of stochastic interest rates. The evidence shows that asset storability does not affect the existence of cointegration between cash and futures prices and the usefulness of future markets in predicting future cash prices. However, it may affect the magnitude of bias of futures markets’ estimates (or predictions) for future cash prices. These findings have several important implications for commodity production decision making, commodity hedging, and commodity price forecasting. 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 21:279–300, 2001

Real exchange rate effects on the balance of trade: cointegration and the Marshall–Lerner condition

Abstract: A typical finding in the empirical literature is that import and export demand elasticities are rather low, and that the Marshall–Lerner (ML) condition does not hold. However, despite the evidence against the ML condition, the consensus is that real devaluations do improve the balance of trade, though after a lag because of J-curve effects. The aim of this paper is to try and measure the effects of the real exchange rate on the balance of payments using structural cointegrating vector autoregressive distributed lag (VARDL) models for domestic and foreign output, the balance of trade and the real exchange rate. Small systems are estimated for eight OECD countries to investigate long-run cointegration. Generalized impulse response functions are calculated to investigate the response to shocks. These show evidence of J-effects. The VARDL estimates suggest a single cointegrating vector and that output and the real exchange rate can be treated as weakly exogenous for the parameters of the balance of payment equation. This allows estimation using a single-equation ARDL. Although there is considerable heterogeneity, overall the results suggest that the ML condition is satisfied in the long run. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Nonstationary Panels, Cointegration in Panels and Dynamic Panels: A Survey

Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of topics in nonstationary panels: panel unit root tests, panel cointegration tests, and estimation of panel cointegration models. In addition it surveys recent developments in dynamic panel data models.

European common stochastic long-run trends

Abstract: The paper examines convergence on the European level by using production functions which include capital and labor as factors of production. The methodology is based on principal-components analysis of common trends appropriate for heterogeneous panels. Using data for the 1960–1997 period and alternative specifications, it is found that convergence can be decisively rejected, although the number of common trends is relatively low (about four or five).

Econometrics: A Practical Approach

Abstract: 1. Econometric methods of research 2: Econometric modeling and diagnostic testing: specific to general approach 3: Qualitative variables in econometric models 4: Models with lagged variables 5: Simultaneous equations models and econometric analysis 6: Methodological strategies for dynamic modeling 7: Time-series analysis: non-stationary and cointegration 8: Applications of cointegration.

Energy consumption, employment, output, and temporal causality: evidence from Taiwan based on cointegration and error-correction modelling techniques

Abstract: In this study, a cointegration analysis and a vector autoregressive model (VAR) are used to examine the causal relationships among energy consumption, employment, and output for Taiwan over the period January 1982 to November 1997. Johansen (1988) and Johansen and Juselius (1990) cointegration test result indicates these three variables are cointegrated with one cointegrating vector. The results from Granger causality tests based on vector error-correction models (VECM) suggest bidirectional Grange causality for employment-output and employment-energy consumption, but only unidirectional causality running from energy consumption to output. Furthermore, the impulse responses and variance decompositions are also incorporated into the analysis. The results from impulsive response and variance decomposition analysis tell similar stories. Energy consumption appears to have led to output growth in Taiwan over this period. The policy implication of this finding is that energy conservation will restrain the outpu...

Time Series Analysis of Crime Rates

Abstract: A methodological critique of Cantor and Land's (1985) approach to the time series analysis of the crime–unemployment relationship is developed. Error correction models for U.S. homicide and robbery rates for the years 1946–1997 are presented to illustrate procedures for analyzing nonstationary time series data. The critique is followed by a discussion of methodological problems in work by Devine et al. (1988), Smith et al. (1992), and Britt (1994, 1997) that builds on Cantor and Land's approach.

Rank Tests for Nonlinear Cointegration

Abstract: A test procedure based on ranks is suggested to test for nonlinear cointegration. For two (or more) time series it is assumed that monotonic transformations exist such that the normalized series can asymptotically be represented as Wiener processes. Rank-test procedures based on the difference between the sequences of ranks are suggested. If there is no cointegration between the time series, the sequences of ranks tend to diverge, whereas under cointegration the sequences of ranks evolve similarly. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that for a wide range of nonlinear models the rank tests perform better than their parametric competitors. To test for nonlinear cointegration, a variable addition test based on ranks is suggested. In an empirical illustration, the rank statistics are applied to test the relationship between bond yields with different times to maturity.

Exchange Rate Volatility and Cointegration in Tourism Demand

Abstract: This study investigates the long-run demand for Australian outbound leisure tourism during the period 1983 (quarter 1) to 1997 (quarter 4) for nine major tourism destinations. The study is unique in an international context by using exchange rate volatility as an explanatory variable, while it is unique in an Australian context by using a composite substitute price variable. The estimation and hypothesis-testing processes are undertaken using both the Johansen and Engle and Granger procedures. The variance of the exchange rate was found to be a significant determinant of long-run tourism demand in 50% of estimates. Real disposable income and substitute prices were found to have inelastic long-run effects on tourism, while the long-run relative price elasticity tended to differ widely across countries. Indonesia was the only country to find that the exchange rate has a significantly different impact on tourism than relative prices.

The determinants of private sector credit in industrialised countries : do property prices matter?

Abstract: Episodes of boom and bust in credit markets have often coincided with cycles in economic activity and property markets. The coincidence of these cycles has already been widely documented in the literature, but few studies address the issue in a formal way. In this study we analyse the determinants of credit to the private non-bank sector in 16 industrialised countries since 1980 based on a cointegrating VAR. Cointegration tests suggest that the long-run development of credit cannot be explained by standard credit demand factors. But once real property prices, measured as a weighted average of real residential and real commercial property prices, are added to the system, we are able to identify long-run relationships linking real credit positively to real GDP and real property prices and negatively to the real interest rate. These long-run relationships may be interpreted as long-run extended credit demand relationships, but we may also capture effects on credit supply. Impulse response analysis based on a standard Cholesky decomposition reveals that there is significant two-way dynamic interaction between bank credit and property prices. We also find that innovations to the short-term real interest rate have a strong and significant negative effect on bank credit, GDP and property prices.

A cointegration analysis of treasury bill yields

Abstract: This paper shows that yields to maturity of U.S. Treasury bills are cointegrated, and that during periods when the Federal Reserve specifically targeted short-term interest rates, the spreads between yields of different maturity define the cointegrating vectors. This cointegrating relationship implies that a single non-stationary common factor underlies the time series behavior of each yield to maturity and that risk premia are stationary. An error correction model which uses spreads as the error correction terms is unstable over the Federal Reserve's policy regime changes, but a model using post 1982 data is stable and is shown to be useful for forecasting changes in yields.

Cointegration analysis of quarterly tourism demand by Hong Kong and Singapore for Australia

Abstract: Hong Kong and Singapore are two of the most important and fastest growing markets for tourists to Australia. The purpose of this paper is to investigate movements in the long-run demand for tourist travel by these two origin countries for Australia. Some of the leading macroeconomic variables examined to explain tourism demand are incomes in Hong Kong and Singapore, tourism prices in Australia, and transportation costs and exchange rates between the two countries and Australia. Seasonally unadjusted quarterly data are used for Hong Kong for the period 1975(1)–1996(4), and for 1980(4)–1996(4) for Singapore. Several proxy variables are used for the incomes of tourists from Hong Kong and Singapore to explain quarterly tourist arrivals to Australia. The augmented Dickey-Fuller test for unit roots is examined in the univariate framework, and Johansen's maximum likelihood procedure is used to test for cointegration and to estimate the number of cointegrating vectors. Error correction models are estimated to exp...