Applying the Hirose-Kamada filter to Swiss data: Output gap and exchange rate pass-through estimates

Multivariate filters based on the Hodrick-Prescott filter are appealing because they combine the advantages of the Hodrick-Prescott filter with economic relationships. Recently, a new multivariate filter has been put forward by Hirose and Kamada (2003). In this article we apply this new filter to Swiss data spanning the period from 1981 to 2005. We estimate both potential output and the associated output gap with quarterly data. Moreover, a model-consistent Phillips curve for an open economy is derived from simple economic relationships. Based on the estimated Phillips curve, we investigate exchange-rate pass through effects on consumer prices. We find only a weak transmission of exchange rate fluctuations into consumer prices.