For conditional heteroskedasticity models, the authors study the identification condition that is required for consistency of a non-Gaussian quasi-maximum-likelihood estimator. They show that, if the conditional mean is zero or if a symmetry condition is satisfied, then the identification...

Virtually all empirical studies that assume a time-varying conditional variance use a quasi-maximum likelihood estimator (QMLE). If the density from which the likelihood is constructed is assumed to be Gaussian, the QMLE is known to be consistent under correct specification of both the...

We study the effect of income uncertainty on consumption in a model that includes precautionary saving. In contrast to previous studies, we focus on time-series variation in income uncertainty. Our time-series measure of income uncertainty is constructed from a panel of forecasts. We find...

For Markov regime-switching models, a nonstandard test statistic must be used to test for the possible presence of multiple regimes. Carter and Steigerwald (2013, Journal of Econometric Methods 2: 25–34) derive the analytic steps needed to implement the Markov regime-switching test proposed by...

We develop a microstructure model that, in contrast to previous models, allows one to estimate the frequency and quality of private information. In addition, the model produces stationary asset price and trading volume series. We find evidence that information arrives frequently within a day and...