This paper compares alternative estimation procedures for multi-level factor models which imply blocks of zero restrictions on the associated matrix of factor loadings. We suggest a sequential least squares algorithm for minimizing the total sum of squared residuals and a two-step approach based...

Nonstationary fractionally integrated time series may possibly be fractionally cointegrated. In this paper we propose a test for the null hypothesis of no cointegration. It builds on a static cointegration regression of the levels of the variables as a first step. In a second step, a univariate...

To assess the synchronization of business cycles in Europe we extract the cyclical component of industrial production in five European countries using the filter of Baxter and King (1999). The hypothesis of a joint business cycle is tested by using the frequency domain common cycle test...

Following Bierens (1997a,b) and Vogelsang (1998a,b), unit root tests can be constructed which are asymptotically invariant to parameters involved by the short run dynamics of the process. Such an approach is called nonparametric by Bierens (1997b) and can be used to test a wide range of...