We study how well a New Keynesian business cycle model can explain the observed behavior of nominal interest rates. We focus on two puzzles raised in previous literature. First, Donaldson, Johnsen, and Mehra (1990) show that while in the U.S. nominal term structure the interest rates are...

This paper asks the question of whether the newly available TIPS yields data can help us achieve a better understanding of the real term structure and the inflation expectations. The yield differential between TIPS and comparable nominal coupon securities is not a direct measure of inflation...

Recent studies by Dai and Singleton (2002), Duffee (2002), and Duarte (2004) show that affine term structure models that match the time variability of the expected returns of bond yields do not generate time variation in the volatility of interest rates. This failure indicates that affine models...

Based on an idea in Backus, Foresi, and Telmer (1998) we extend the class of discrete-time affine multifactor Gaussian models by allowing factor innovations to be distributed as Gaussian mixtures. This is motivated by the observation that bond yield changes for some maturities are distinctly...

Monthly term structures are fit to US Treasury inflation-indexed securities using a QN (Quadratic-Natural) spline, developed in this paper, and also to conventional nominal securities of comparable maturities. The ratio of the real to nominal discount functions is an implicit forward CPI...

We construct a multi-country affine term structure model that contains unspanned macroeconomic and foreign exchange risks. The canonical version of the model is derived and is shown to be easy to estimate. We show that it is important to impose restrictions (including global asset pricing, carry...

This paper proposes a novel regression-based approach to the estimation of Gaussian dynamic term structure models that avoids numerical optimization. This new estimator is an asymptotic least squares estimator defined by the no-arbitrage conditions upon which these models are built. We discuss...

We investigate the macroeconomic determinants of corporate spreads using a no-arbitrage technique. Structural shocks are identified by a New-Keynesian model. Treasury bonds are priced in an affine model with time-varying risk premia. Corporate bonds are priced in a reduced-form credit risk model...