A loss function approach to model specification testing and its relative efficiency

The generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) test proposed by Fan, Zhang and Zhang [Ann. Statist. 29 (2001) 153-193] and Fan and Yao [Nonlinear Time Series: Nonparametric and Parametric Methods (2003) Springer] is a generally applicable nonparametric inference procedure. In this paper, we show that although it inherits many advantages of the parametric maximum likelihood ratio (LR) test, the GLR test does not have the optimal power property. We propose a generally applicable test based on loss functions, which measure discrepancies between the null and nonparametric alternative models and are more relevant to decision-making under uncertainty. The new test is asymptotically more powerful than the GLR test in terms of Pitman's efficiency criterion. This efficiency gain holds no matter what smoothing parameter and kernel function are used and even when the true likelihood function is available for the GLR test.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/13-AOS1099 the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Wavelet-based Estimation for Heteroskedasticity and Autocorrelation Consistent Variance-Covariance Matrices

As is well-known, a heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation consistent covariance matrix is proportional to a spectral density matrix at frequency zero and can be consistently estimated by such popular kernel methods as those of Andrews-Newey-West. In practice, it is difficult to estimate the spectral density matrix if it has a peak at frequency zero, which can arise when there is strong autocorrelation, as often encountered in economic and financial time series. Kernels, as a local averaging method, tend to underestimate the peak, thus leading to strong overrejection in testing and overly narrow confidence intervals in estimation. As a new mathematical tool generalizing Fourier transform, wavelet transform is a powerful tool to investigate such local properties as peaks and spikes, and thus is suitable for estimating covariance matrices. In this paper, we propose a class of wavelet estimators for the covariance matrices of econometric parameter estimators. We show the consistency of the wavelet-based covariance estimators and derive their asymptotic mean squared errors, which provide insight into the smoothing nature of wavelet estimation. We propose a data-driven method to select the finest scale---the smoothing parameter in wavelet estimation, making the wavelet estimators operational in practice. A simulation study compares the finite sample performances of the wavelet estimators and the kernel counterparts. As expected, the wavelet method outperforms the kernel method when there exists relatively strong autocorrelation in the data.

Specification Testing for Multivariate Time Series Volatility Models

Volatility models have been playing an important role in economics and finance. Using a multivariate generalized spectral approach, we propose a new class of generally applicable omnibus tests for univariate and multivariate volatility models. Both GARCH models and stochastic volatility models are covered. Our tests have a convenient asymptotic null N(0,1) distribution, and can detect a wide range of misspecifications for volatility dynamics. Distinct from the existing tests for volatility models, our tests are robust to higher order time-varying moments of unknown form (e.g., time-varying skewness and kurtosis). Our tests check a large number of lags and are therefore expected to be powerful against neglected volatility dynamics that occurs at higher order lags or display long memory properties. Despite using a large number of lags, our tests do not suffer much from loss of a large number of degrees of freedom, because our approach naturally discounts higher order lags, which is consistent with the stylized fact that economic or financial markets are more affected by the recent past events than by the remote past events. No specific estimation method is required, and parameter estimation uncertainty has no impact on the limit distribution of the test statistics. Moreover, there is no need to formulate an alternative volatility model, and only estimated standardized residuals are needed to implement our tests. We do not have to calculate tedious score functions or derivatives of volatility models with respect to estimated parameters, which are model-specific and are required in some existing popular tests for volatility models. We examine the finite sample performance of the proposed tests. An empirical application to some popular GARCH models for stock returns illustrates our approachGeneralized spectral derivative, Kernel, Multivariate generalized spectrum, Multivariate GARCH models, Nonlinear volatility dynamics, Robustness, Specification testing, Stochastic Volatility Model, Time-varying higher order moments of unknown form.

Young wall realization of crystal graphs for U_q(C_n^{(1)})

We give a realization of crystal graphs for basic representations of the quantum affine algebra U_q(C_n^{(1)}) using combinatorics of Young walls. The notion of splitting blocks plays a crucial role in the construction of crystal graphs