We generalize the arbitrage-free Nelson Siegel (AFNS) model to allow λt to vary over time. We find that the time-varying λt, which determines the relative factor loadings, typically reaches its local peak before starting to decline right before a recession. Through conducting extensive...

This paper introduces the term structure of interest rates into a medium-scale DSGE model. This extension results in a multi-period forecasting model that is estimated under both adaptive learning and rational expectations. Term structure information enables us to characterize agents'...

We examine whether professional forecasters incorporate high-frequency information about credit conditions when revising their economic forecasts. Using Mixed Data Sampling regression approach, we find that daily credit spreads have significant predictive ability for monthly forecast revisions...

The evolution of the yields of different maturities is related and can be described by a reduced number of commom latent factors. Multifactor interest rate models of the finance literature, common factor models of the time series literature and others use this property. Each model has advantages...

This paper studies the informational content of the slope of the yield curve as a predictor of recessions in the euro area. In particular, the historical predictive power of ten yield spreads, for different segments of the yield curve, is tested using a probit model. The yield spread between the...

This research investigates the macro factors for forecasting (1) bond risk premia and (2) term structure of government bond yields by using Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) based on empirical prior. Different from the traditional variable selection approach which advocates finding an...

Various ways of extracting macroeconomic information from a data-rich environment are compared with the objective of forecasting yield curves using the Nelson-Siegel model. Five issues in factor extraction are addressed, namely, selection of a subset of the available information, incorporation...

This paper extends the benchmark Estrella and Hardouvelis (1991) term spread approach to recession forecasting by including the stock market macro liquidity deviation factor. We use a probit framework to predict US business cycles, as defined by the NBER between 1959Q1 and 2011Q4. We find that...

We set up an early warning system for financial crises based on the Random Forrest approach. We use a novel set of predictors that comprises financial development indicators (e.g. levels of credit to GDP ratio) in addition to conventional imbalances measures (e.g. credit gaps). The evaluation of...

The paper investigates the life-cycle of the 2008-2009 financial crisis by linking the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP) Scoreboard of the European Commission to the crisis database of the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB). The novelty of the analysis is that early warning capacity of...