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...

Structural changes often occur in economics and finance due to changes in preferences, technologies, institutional reforms, policies, crises and other factors. It is important to distinguish whether a structural change is abrupt or evolutionary, because the implications on econometric modelling...