This paper focuses on nonseparable structural models of the form Y = m(X, U, α0) with U X and in which the structural parameter α0 contains both finite dimensional (θ0) and infinite dimensional (h0) unknown components. Our proposal is to estimate α0 by a minimum distance from...

Working within the 'distributional approach', this research offers evidence, based on empirical density estimates and modality tests, of past polarization in regional labour productivity in EU-15. Most importantly, it provides evidence on the related ergodic density which suggests that this...

This article predicts the relative performance of hedge fund investment styles using time-varying conditional stochastic dominance tests. These tests allow for the construction of dynamic trading strategies based on nonparametric density forecasts of hedge fund returns. During the recent...

This paper asks whether comprehensive, non-interest government size has an inverted Ushaped effect on private economic output in Canada and whether its current size is too large relative to the estimated tipping point. Using data from 1929 through 2011 and controlling for both correlations...

Risk assessment is one of the major challenges that must be addressed by each insurance company. To assess risk we need to know the value of losses as well as the probability of losses, since the risk cost is the basic component in evaluating the insurance indemnity. Statistical methods should...

Few studies have compared preference values of health states obtained in different countries. This paper applies a nonparametric model to estimate and compare EQ-5D health state valuation data obtained from two countries using Bayesian methods. The data set is the US and UK EQ-5D valuation...

By using a sample of 77 countries our analysis applies several nonparametric techniques in order to reveal the link between national culture and corruption. Based on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and the corruption perception index, the results reveal that countries with higher levels of...

In recent years there has been increased interest in using nonparametric methods to deal with various aspects of financial data. The paper by Fan overviews some nonparametric techniques that have been used in the financial econometric literature, focusing on estimation and inference for...

The aim of the paper is twofold: i) to propose a methodology to compute the growth rate volatility of an economy, and ii) to investigate the relationship between growth volatility and economic development through the lenses of the structural characteristics of an economy. We study a large...