Bayesian inference in cointegrated VAR models: with applications to the demand for euro area M3

The paper considers a Bayesian approach to the cointegrated VAR model with a uniform prior on the cointegration space. Building on earlier work by Villani (2005b), where the posterior probability of the cointegration rank can be calculated conditional on the lag order, the current paper also makes it possible to compute the joint posterior probability of these two parameters as well as the marginal posterior probabilities under the assumption of a known upper bound for the lag order. When the marginal likelihood identity is used for calculating these probabilities, a point estimator of the cointegration space and the weights is required. Analytical expressions are therefore derived of the mode of the joint posterior of these parameter matrices. The procedure is applied to a money demand system for the euro area and the results are compared to those obtained from a maximum likelihood analysis. JEL Classification: C11, C15, C32, E41Bayesian inference, cointegration, lag order, Money demand, vector autoregression

Unemployment and Inflation Regimes

In this paper we study 2-state Markov switching VAR models of monthly unemployment and inflation for three countries: Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States. We find that such models seem to provide a better description of the data than single regime VARs and need fewer lags to account for serial correlation. To interpret the regimes the empirical results are compared with the predictions from a version of Rogoff's (1985) model of monetary policy. We find that both the theoretical and the empirical results suggest that an increase in central bank "conservativeness" can be associated with either a higher or a lower variance in unemployment. In the U.S. case we find that the variance of unemployment is lower in the low inflation regime than in the high inflation regime, while the Swedish case suggests that unemployment variability is higher in the low inflation regime. According to the theoretical model this may be explained by a higher labor supply elasticity in the U.S. than in Sweden.

Risks to price stability, the zero lower bound and forward guidance: a real-time assessment : [Version August 14, 2013]

This paper employs stochastic simulations of the New Area-Wide Model—a microfounded open-economy model developed at the ECB—to investigate the consequences of the zero lower bound on nominal interest rates for the evolution of risks to price stability in the euro area during the recent financial crisis. Using a formal measure of the balance of risks, which is derived from policy-makers’ preferences about inflation outcomes, we first show that downside risks to price stability were considerably greater than upside risks during the first half of 2009, followed by a gradual rebalancing of these risks until mid-2011 and a renewed deterioration thereafter. We find that the lower bound has induced a noticeable downward bias in the risk balance throughout our evaluation period because of the implied amplification of deflation risks. We then illustrate that, with nominal interest rates close to zero, forward guidance in the form of a time-based conditional commitment to keep interest rates low for longer can be successful in mitigating downside risks to price stability. However, we find that the provision of time-based forward guidance may give rise to upside risks over the medium term if extended too far into the future. By contrast, time-based forward guidance complemented with a threshold condition concerning tolerable future inflation can provide insurance against the materialisation of such upside risks

Monetary policy analysis in a small open economy using Bayesian cointegrated structural VARs

Structural VARs have been extensively used in empirical macroeconomics during the last two decades, particularly in analyses of monetary policy. Existing Bayesian procedures for structural VARs are at best confined to a severly limited handling of cointegration restrictions. This paper extends the Bayesian analysis of structural VARs to cover cointegrated processes with an arbitrary number of cointegrating relations and general linear restrictions on the cointegration space. A reference prior distribution with an optional small open economy effect is proposed and a Gibbs sampler is derived for a straightforward evaluation of the posterior distribution. The methods are used to analyze the effects of monetary policy in Sweden. JEL Classification: C11, C32, E52Counterfactual experiments, Impulse responses, monetary policy, Structural, Vector autoregression

Is the demand for euro area M3 stable?

JEL Classification: C22, C32, E41Aggregation, Bootstrap, Money demand, Own Rate of Money, Parameter Constancy

The New Area-Wide Model of the euro area: a micro-founded open-economy model for forecasting and policy analysis

In this paper, we outline a version of the New Area-Wide Model (NAWM) of the euro area designed for use in the (Broad) Macroeconomic Projection Exercises regularly undertaken by ECB/Eurosystem staff. We present estimation results for the NAWM that are obtained by employing Bayesian inference methods and document the properties of the estimated model by reporting its impulse-response functions and forecast-error-variance decompositions, by inspecting the model-based sample moments, and by examining the model’s forecasting performance relative to a number of benchmarks, including a Bayesian VAR. We finally consider several applications to illustrate the potential contributions the NAWM can make to forecasting and policy analysis. JEL Classification: C11, C32, E32, E37Bayesian inference, DSGE modelling, euro area, forecasting, open-economy macroeconomics, policy analysis

Forecasting with DSGE models

In this paper we review the methodology of forecasting with log-linearised DSGE models using Bayesian methods. We focus on the estimation of their predictive distributions, with special attention being paid to the mean and the covariance matrix of h-step ahead forecasts. In the empirical analysis, we examine the forecasting performance of the New Area-Wide Model (NAWM) that has been designed for use in the macroeconomic projections at the European Central Bank. The forecast sample covers the period following the introduction of the euro and the out-of-sample performance of the NAWM is compared to nonstructural benchmarks, such as Bayesian vector autoregressions (BVARs). Overall, the empirical evidence indicates that the NAWM compares quite well with the reduced-form models and the results are therefore in line with previous studies. Yet there is scope for improving the NAWM’s forecasting performance. For example, the model is not able to explain the moderation in wage growth over the forecast evaluation period and, therefore, it tends to overestimate nominal wages. As a consequence, both the multivariate point and density forecasts using the log determinant and the log predictive score, respectively, suggest that a large BVAR can outperform the NAWM. JEL Classification: C11, C32, E32, E37Bayesian inference, DSGE Models, euro area, forecasting, open-economy macroeconomics, Vector autoregression

Conditional versus unconditional forecasting with the New Area-Wide Model of the euro area

In this paper we examine conditional versus unconditional forecasting with a version of the New Area-Wide Model (NAWM) of the euro area designed for use in the context of the macroeconomic projection exercises at the European Central Bank (ECB). We first analyse the out-of-sample forecasting properties of the estimated model from 1999 to 2005 by comparing its unconditional forecasts with those obtained from a Bayesian VAR with a steady-state prior as well as na¨ıve forecasts. Model-based forecasts that are conditioned on differing information sets are then studied and evaluated through, for instance, modesty statistics to assess the relevance of the Lucas critique. In contrast to other studies in the literature, we condition on a fairly large set of policy-relevant variables. Furthermore, we consider conditioning information that partially, albeit not fully determine the future path of the observed variables, but which restrict the channels through which they can be affected

Conditional versus unconditional forecasting with the New Area-Wide Model of the euro area

In this paper we examine conditional versus unconditional forecasting with a version of the New Area-Wide Model (NAWM) of the euro area designed for use in the context of the macroeconomic projection exercises at the European Central Bank (ECB). We first analyse the out-of-sample forecasting properties of the estimated model from 1999 to 2005 by comparing its unconditional forecasts with those obtained from a Bayesian VAR with a steady-state prior as well as na¨ıve forecasts. Model-based forecasts that are conditioned on differing information sets are then studied and evaluated through, for instance, modesty statistics to assess the relevance of the Lucas critique. In contrast to other studies in the literature, we condition on a fairly large set of policy-relevant variables. Furthermore, we consider conditioning information that partially, albeit not fully determine the future path of the observed variables, but which restrict the channels through which they can be affected

Гидроразрыв пласта на Крапивинском нефтяном месторождении (Томская область)

Представлены результаты анализа геолого-физических характеристик и показателей разработки Крапивинского нефтяного месторождения. Отмечены высокие коллекторские условия разработки объекта, наличие высокопроницаемых пластов, высоковязкой нефти, высоких температур. На месторождении в течение нескольких лет проводятся работы по увеличению коэффициента продуктивности на основе применения ГРП. Выявлена зависимость эффективности применения различных технологий от объемов: жидкости-песконосителя, проппанта, от его концентраций, последовательности их ввода в трещину, а также от скорости закачки технологических жидкостей при проведении ГРП. Предложена блок-диаграмма выбора технологии ГРП, установлена наиболее эффективная технология ГРП концевого экранирования (TSO).The results of the analysis of geological and physical characteristics and development indicators of krapivinsk oil field. Marked high permeability conditions of the development facility, the presence of high permeability reservoirs, heavy oil, high temperatures. On the field for several years is working on increasing productivity through the use of hydraulic fracturing. The dependence of the effectiveness of various technologies volume: liquid-sand carrier, proppant, concentrations, sequence of their input into the crack, and the speed of injection fluids when conducting hydraulic fracturing. The proposed block diagram of the selection of hydraulic fracturing, the most effective technology of hydraulic fracturing of the end shield (TSO)