Do so-called multivariate filters have better revision properties? An empirical analysis

The output gap plays a crucial role in thinking and actions of many central banks but real time measurements undergo substantial revisions as more data become available (Orphanides (2001), Orphanides and van Norden (forthcoming)). Some central banks augment, such as the Bank of Canada and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the Hodrick and Prescott (1997) filter with conditioning structural information to mitigate the impact of revisions to the output gap estimates. In this paper, we use a state space Kalman filter framework to examine whether the augmented (so-called “multivariate filtersâ€) achieve this objective. We find that the multivariate filters are no better than the Hodrick-Prescott filter for real-time NZ data. The addition of structural equations increase the number of signal equations, but at the same time adds more unobserved trend/equilibrium variables to the system. We find that how these additional trends/equilibrium values are treated matters a lot, and they increase the uncertainty around the estimates. In addition, the revisions from these models can be as large as a univariate Hodrick-Prescott filter.output gap, real time, multivariate filters

Monetary policy transmission mechanisms and currency unions A vector error correction approach to a Trans-Tasman currency union

Differences in transmission mechanisms can generate asymmetric behaviour among currency union partners when they experience shocks. This has the potential to widen existing cyclical variation between members of a currency union. Our analysis suggests that the transmission mechanisms of GDP and the CPI of a monetary shock appear to be similar in Australia and New Zealand. However, there are differences in terms of the size of the responses of some variables to identical monetary policy shocks. In a currency union with a different exchange rate pattern and with different monetary policy shocks, New Zealand may experience some new challenges.Impulse responses; vector error correction; monetary transmission mechanism

Modelling for monetary policy: the New Zealand experience

This article is an edited version of a paper written for the Centre of Central Banking Studies' Chief Economists Workshop in London in May 2006. The article reviews the evolution of modelling at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand from the 1970s to today, focusing on the changing role of inflation expectations. It discusses the impact of theoretical developments on the evolving approach to monetary policy and the models that have been built to support policy. The article highlights the important impact that the Lucas critique has had on both monetary policy, and the Bank's approach to modelling.

The impact of fiscal policy on the business cycle

This article sets out theoretical and empirical evidence on the impact of fiscal policy on the business cycle. Our analysis suggests that fiscal policy has a significant influence on cyclical conditions in New Zealand. Simple measures of the stance of fiscal policy, such as the Treasury’s measure of fiscal impulse, are useful, but the details of fiscal initiatives also need to be analysed to determine macroeconomic impact. For example, tax changes can have very different effects: tax cuts designed to spur savings could be mildly contractionary, while company tax cuts will tend to be expansionary. The significance of fiscal changes for monetary policy also depends partly on other factors driving the business cycle.

Monetary policy transmission mechanisms and currency unions: A vector error correction approach to a Trans-Tasman currency union

Transmission mechanisms are the channels through which monetary policy affects macroeconomic variables, such as GDP and inflation. Differences in transmission mechanisms can generate asymmetric behaviour among currency union partners when they experience shocks. This has the potential to widen existing cyclical variation between members of a currency union. We examine the similarity of transmission mechanisms in New Zealand and Australia and consider the implications this has for a currency union between the two economies. We examine these using the Vector Error Correction methodology. While conclusions using this methodology for New Zealand and Australia remain quite fragile, our analysis nevertheless suggests that the transmission mechanisms in New Zealand and Australia do display many similarities. In particular the adjustments of both GDP and the CPI in response to monetary policy shocks appear to be very similar. However there are some differences in terms of the size of the responses of some of the variables to identical monetary policy shocks. In a currency union with a different exchange rate pattern and with different monetary policy shocks, New Zealand may experience some new challenges.

RBCs and DSGEs: The Computational Approach to Business Cycle Theory and Evidence

Real business cycle (RBC) and dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) methods have become essential components of the macroeconomist's toolkit. This literature review stresses recently developed techniques for computation and inference, providing

What happens when the Kiwi flies? Sectoral effects of exchange rate shocks on the New Zealand economy

We use a data-rich approach, a factor-augmented vector autoregression (FAVAR), to identify idiosyncratic exchange rate shocks and examine the effects of these shocks on different sectors of the New Zealand economy. We find that an unexpected shock to the exchange rate has significant effects on relatively tradable sectors of the economy. Whilst this is expected, relatively ‘more’ non-tradable sectors of the economy are also influenced by shocks to the exchange rate, presumably due to their linkages to more trade-exposed sectors. We also find that exchange rate shocks explain a small proportion of overall business cycle variability, implying that the exchange rate acts as a buffer rather than as a source of shock