We estimate and test for multiple structural breaks in distribution with unknown break dates via a characteristic function approach. By minimizing the sum of squared generalized residuals, we can consistently estimate the break fractions. We propose a sup-F type test for structural breaks in...

Time-varying coefficient models have been widely used to model changing relationships of economic and financial variables. The existing literature usually specifies the time-varying coefficient vector as a stochastic stationary process, a deterministic function of time, or a unit root process....