An effective and easy-to-implement frequency filter is proposed, obtained by convolving a raised-cosine window with the ideal rectangular filter response function. Three other filters, Hodrick–Prescott, Baxter–King, and Christiano–Fitzgerald, are thoroughly reviewed. A bandpass version of...

This paper employs a panel vector autoregressive model (PVAR) to study the dynamics of the overall exchange rate volatility. PVAR estimation results, based on panel data for 29 economies, are used in simulating impulse response functions. Since economic shocks may affect high-frequency and...

This research uses spectral methodology to study how the volatility of spot exchange rate misalignments changed as a result of signing of the Plaza Accord and introduction of the Euro. We study the deviations of Canadian Dollar/US Dollar, Japanese Yen/US Dollar and US Dollar/British Pound spot...

We analyze the first representative series of individual measurements of the height of Swiss conscripts for the years 1875–1950. We find that average height followed a general upward time trend, but the economic downturn in the 1880s slowed down the increase in rural average-heights while the...

This paper examines the comovement of the stock market and of real activity in Germany before World War I under the efficient market hypothesis. We employ multivariate spectral analysis to compare rivaling national product estimates to stock market behaviour in the frequency domain. Close...

This paper analyzes the feasibility of a monetary union in East Asia focusing on business cycles synchronization. Considering the critical role of trade integration in the East Asian integration process, we study whether East Asian countries are characterized by business cycle synchronization....

A reliable leading indicator should possess the following properties: (1) The movements in the indicator series should resemble those in the business cycle reference series. (2) The relation between the reference series and the indicator should be statistically significant and stable over time....

Recently, there has been considerable work on stochastic time-varying coefficient models as vehicles for modelling structural change in the macroeconomy with a focus on the estimation of the unobserved paths of random coefficient processes. The dominant estimation methods, in this context, are...

The sample mean is one of the most natural estimators of the population mean based on independent identically distributed sample. However, if some control variate is available, it is known that the control variate method reduces the variance of the sample mean. The control variate method often...

We ask whether failing one or more of the state-mandated high-school exit examinations affects whether students graduate from high school. Using a new multi-dimensional regression-discontinuity approach, we examine simultaneously scores on mathematics and English language arts tests. Barely...