Since the objective of economic policy is to change target variables in the DGP, when economic policy analysis uses an econometric model, it is important that the model delivers reliable inferences about policy responses in the DGP. This requires that the model be congruent and encompassing, and...

To explain which methods might win forecasting competitions on economic time series, we consider forecasting in an evolving economy subject to structural breaks, using mis-specified, data-based models. `Causal' models need not win when facing deterministic shifts, a primary factor underlying...

A new test for non-linearity is developed using weighted combinations of regressor powers based on the eigenvectors of the variance-covariance matrix. The test extends the ingenious test for heteroskedasticity proposed by White (1980), but both circumvents problems of high dimensionality and...

Data from Constructing Historical Euro-Zone Data, Economic Journal, 2001, 111:F102-F121. Quarterly, 1979q1 to 1999q4.

The controversy over the selection of 'growth regressions' was precipitated by some remarkably numerous 'estimation' strategies, including two million regressions by Sala-i-Martin ["American Economic Review" (1997b) Vol. 87, pp. 178-183]. Only one regression is really needed, namely the general...