In this paper we develop flexible techniques for measuring the speed of output convergence between countries when such convergence may be of an unknown non-linear form. We then calculate these convergence speeds for various countries, in terms of half-lives, from two time-series data-sets. These...

This paper duscusses tha author's wok on measuring and modelling the New Zealand underground economy, 1968-1994. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between this activity and taxation policy. An optimal level for the effective tax rate is reported, in terms of maximizing the impact...

This paper considers unit root testing of time-series data with missing observations. Three procedures for dealing with the gaps are discussed. These include: ignoring the gaps, replacing the gaps with the last available observation, and filling the gaps with a linear interpolation method. The...

We use survival models to analyze the duration of the spells associated with the interest rate used by the Bank of Canada as its monetary policy instrument. Both non-parametric and parametric models are estimated, allowing for right-censoring of the data, and time-varying covariates. We find...

The empirical likelihood ratio (ELR) test for the problem of testing for normality is derived in this paper. The sampling properties of the ELR test and four other commonly used tests are provided and analyzed using the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The power comparisons against a wide range...

This study investigates the degree of size-distortion of the RESET, FRESETL and FRESETS tests, and their ability to reject falsely specified models in terms of an omitted variable, in the presence of autocorrelation. Specifically, in the presence of AR(1) and MA(1) processes, respectively. We...

This paper analyzes a large sample of unit records relating to tax audit cases for individual New Zealand firms, undertaken by Inland Revenue New Zealand over the period 1993 to 1995. The data are used to reveal the key characteristics that are associated with firms that comply, or fail to...

This paper considers the "learning curve" relationship between the aggregate tax rate and the relative size of the hidden economy in New Zealand. Some simple non-linear models are estimated so that the effects of changes in the effective tax rate on the underground economy can be simulated. We...

In this paper I support using econometric techniques to measure the size of the hidden (underground) economy, because such information is important for the construction of certain economic models, and for empirical policy analysis. Generally, detailed information on the output of the hidden...

We use nonparametric regression analysis to investigate the relationship between the effective tax rate and the relative size of the underground economy, using New Zealand data. The theoretical underpinnings of such a relationship are established by extending some of the predictions of the...