In this paper, we consider and examine the performance of two-step LM unit root tests with trend-breaks. In the first step, we jointly test for the existence and location of breaks using a maximum F-test. In the second step, we utilize the identified breaks and test for a unit root. A...

We use the expected lifetime range (ELR) ratio based on the extreme values of asset prices to detect the presence of mean reversion in stock returns. We find that the actual cross-sectional average of the ELR ratio is significantly less than its bootstrap means, thereby indicating a considerable...

We investigate whether alternative asset classes should be included in optimal portfolios of the most prominent investor personae in the Behavioral Finance literature, namely, the Cumulative Prospect Theory, the Markowitz and the Loss Averse types of investors. We develop a stochastic spanning...

Purpose: This paper examines the associative and causal relationship between changes in the implied volatility index (VIX) and stock market returns, with data from 15 countries representing both developed and emerging economies.1 We also examine the dynamic variation, if any in the nature of the...

We propose a new specification test for assessing the validity of fuzzy regression discontinuity designs (FRD‐validity). We derive a new set of testable implications, characterized by a set of inequality restrictions on the joint distribution of observed outcomes and treatment status at the...

The African Union advocates the creation of a monetary union in stages for the entire continent starting with each of the different sub-regions. Building from that, the Southern African Development Community has, among its goals, the creation of a monetary union for its member states. However,...

This paper is aimed at presenting application of bootstrap interval estimation methods to the assessment of financial investment’s effectiveness and risk. At first, we give an overview of various methods of bootstrap confidence interval estimation, i.e. bootstrap-t interval, percentile...

This paper investigates the properties of tests for asymmetric long-run adjustment which are often applied in empirical studies on asymmetric price transmissions. We show that substantial size distortions are caused by preconditioning the test on finding sufficient evidence for cointegration in...