Out-of-sample equity premium prediction: A complete subset quantile regression approach

This paper extends the complete subset linear regression framework to a quantile regression setting. We employ complete subset combinations of quantile forecasts in order to construct robust and accurate equity premium predictions. Our recursive algorithm that selects, in real time, the best complete subset for each predictive regression quantile succeeds in identifying the best subset in a time- and quantile-varying manner. We show that our approach delivers statistically and economically significant out-of-sample forecasts relative to both the historical average benchmark and the complete subset mean regression approach

Out-of-sample equity premium prediction: A complete subset quantile regression approach

This paper extends the complete subset linear regression framework to a quantile regression setting. We employ complete subset combinations of quantile forecasts in order to construct robust and accurate equity premium predictions. Our recursive algorithm that selects, in real time, the best complete subset for each predictive regression quantile succeeds in identifying the best subset in a time- and quantile-varying manner. We show that our approach delivers statistically and economically significant out-of-sample forecasts relative to both the historical average benchmark and the complete subset mean regression approach

Using VARs and TVP-VARs with many macroeconomic variables

This paper discusses the challenges faced by the empirical macroeconomist and methods for surmounting them. These challenges arise due to the fact that macroeconometric models potentially include a large number of variables and allow for time variation in parameters. These considerations lead to models which have a large number of parameters to estimate relative to the number of observations. A wide range of approaches are surveyed which aim to overcome the resulting problems. We stress the related themes of prior shrinkage, model averaging and model selection. Subsequently, we consider a particular modelling approach in detail. This involves the use of dynamic model selection methods with large TVP-VARs. A forecasting exercise involving a large US macroeconomic data set illustrates the practicality and empirical success of our approach

Bayesian Nonparametric Calibration and Combination of Predictive Distributions

We introduce a Bayesian approach to predictive density calibration and combination that accounts for parameter uncertainty and model set incompleteness through the use of random calibration functionals and random combination weights. Building on the work of Ranjan, R. and Gneiting, T. (2010) and Gneiting, T. and Ranjan, R. (2013), we use infinite beta mixtures for the calibration. The proposed Bayesian nonparametric approach takes advantage of the flexibility of Dirichlet process mixtures to achieve any continuous deformation of linearly combined predictive distributions. The inference procedure is based on Gibbs sampling and allows accounting for uncertainty in the number of mixture components, mixture weights, and calibration parameters. The weak posterior consistency of the Bayesian nonparametric calibration is provided under suitable conditions for unknown true density. We study the methodology in simulation examples with fat tails and multimodal densities and apply it to density forecasts of daily S&P returns and daily maximum wind speed at the Frankfurt airport.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1305.2026 by other author

Evaluating point and density forecasts of DSGE models : [Version 13 März 2012]

This paper investigates the accuracy of point and density forecasts of four DSGE models for inflation, output growth and the federal funds rate. Model parameters are estimated and forecasts are derived successively from historical U.S. data vintages synchronized with the Fed’s Greenbook projections. Point forecasts of some models are of similar accuracy as the forecasts of nonstructural large dataset methods. Despite their common underlying New Keynesian modeling philosophy, forecasts of different DSGE models turn out to be quite distinct. Weighted forecasts are more precise than forecasts from individual models. The accuracy of a simple average of DSGE model forecasts is comparable to Greenbook projections for medium term horizons. Comparing density forecasts of DSGE models with the actual distribution of observations shows that the models overestimate uncertainty around point forecasts