This paper revisits the performance of frequently used risk forecasting methods, such as the Value-at-Risk models. The aim is to analyze its performance, and mitigate its pitfalls by incorporating conditional variance estimates, as generated by a GARCH model. Notably, this paper tests several...

When decomposing differences in average economic outcome between two groups of individuals, it is common practice to base the analysis on logarithms if the dependent variable is nonnegative. This paper argues that this approach raises a number of undesired statistical and conceptual issues...

This note explores the robustness of Hamilton's (Econometrica, 1989) two-regime Markov switching model framework for capturing business-cycle patterns. Applying his exact specification to a revised version of real GNP, I find parameter estimates that are similar to those he reported only when I...

Backtesting methods are statistical tests designed to uncover excessive risk-taking from financial institutions. We show in this paper that these methods are subject to the presence of model risk produced by a wrong specification of the conditional VaR model, and derive its effect on the...

US firm cash holdings have become increasingly concentrated over time withering shareholder returns and heightening agency problems associated with free cash flows. Our use of a robust regression technique (LAD) and a state-of-the-art variable selection procedure (LASSO) to identify the...

To statistically infer the motives underlying pro-social behavior, econometric models of choice are required. Such inference is comparable across studies if the choice model yields estimates that are precise in-sample and robust out-of-sample. Analyzing two extensive dictator game data sets, I...

This short note discusses two alternative ways to model dynamics in happiness regressions. A explained, this may be important when standard fixed effects estimates have serial correlation in the residuals, but is also potentially useful when serial correlation is not a problem for providing new...

We characterize modern econometrics in terms of the emergence a widely accepted analytical framework. A major theme which dominated much of the debate through the century was whether and how econometric models can reflect theory-generated economic structures. In the period prior to the 2nd world...

The research used a long memory or Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average model to study and forecast crude oil prices using weekly West Texas Intermediate and Brent series for the period 15/5/1987 to 20/12/2013. Fractional differencing Methods such as Local Whittle Estimator and...

We use a simple New Keynesian model, with firm specific capital, non-zero steady-state inflation, long-run risks and Epstein-Zin preferences to study the volatility implications of a monetary policy shock. An unexpected increases in the policy rate by 150 basis points causes output and inflation...