The real interest rate, the real oil price, and US unemployment revisited

The time series evidence on the relationship between unemployment and the real prices of capital and energy is re-examined for US data. In contrast to previous studies, results indicate that the real interest rate matters little, if at all, for equilibrium unemployment. Using a Markov Switching vector autoregressive method proposed by Psaradakis, Ravn, Sola (2005) [JApplEconometrics 20(5), pp. 665-683] to investigate time-varying Granger causality, the paper shows that the real rate helps forecast unemployment during NBER expansions only. Granger causality from the oil price to unemployment occurs in recessions. The results support the view that the price of crude induces at least some recessions, while not being a regular feature of the US business cycle.Unemployment, Real Interest Rate, Oil Price, Granger Causality, US Recessions, Markov Chain, Regime Switching, Structural Instability

Oil Matters: Real Input Prices and U.S. Unemployment Revisited

Motivated by structural instability in the energy price macroeconomy nexus, this paper revisits Granger causality between unemployment and real input prices, the real prices of energy (crude oil) and capital (real interest rate). Time varying Granger causality is investigated through application of the Markov Switching Vector Autoregression of Psaradakis, Ravn, and Sola [Journal of Applied Econometrics, 20(5), 665-683 (2005)]. The results show that the real price of oil helps forecast unemployment in recessions only, while the real interest rate does so exclusively in expansions. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that oil prices have asymmetric effects on the economy. A further result is that oil, but not the real rate, is economically significant for unemployment in the long run solution of the model.