This study proposes a novel attention-based deep neural network (AttDNN) model specifically designed for predicting mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The model extends existing deep learning frameworks by incorporating M&A-specific features, regularization layers, and an attention mechanism that...

imely assessment of regional economic activity in Ukraine is severely constrained by institutional and data-related limitations. Official regional gross regional product (GRP) statistics are available only at low frequency, are published with substantial delays, and, in the post-2022 period, are...

The stability of global energy markets is fundamental to effective energy strategy, influencing national policy and corporate investment decisions. Extreme volatility, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposes the limitations of conventional risk assessment tools and undermines strategic...

Forecasting hotel occupancy during external shocks is particularly challenging due to their disruptive effects. This study develops a forecasting framework that integrates multisource data using a time-varying parameter state-space model (TVP-SSM). In this framework, search engine data (SED) are...

We design a Bayesian Mixed-Frequency vector autoregression (VAR) model for fiscal monitoring, i.e., to nowcast the government deficit-to-GDP ratio in real time and provide a narrative for its dynamics. The model incorporates both monthly cash and quarterly accrual fiscal indicators, together...

Forecasts that minimize mean squared forecast error (MSE) often exhibit excessive volatility, limiting their practical applicability. We address this accuracy smoothness trade-off by introducing a Multivariate Smooth Sign Accuracy (M-SSA) framework, which extracts smoothed components from...

This study introduces a novel machine learning-based methodology for detecting and forecasting the strength of weak signals in the labor market, using Greece as a case study and utilizing Eurostat time series data (2000-2023). Weak signals, conceptualized as subtle anomalies within otherwise...

Accurate wind power forecasting is crucial for the effective scheduling and scientific management of wind energy, enhancing the safety and reliability of power grids. To handle the inherent intermittency of wind energy, forecasting methodologies have evolved from traditional statistical models...

Inflation dynamics reflect forces operating at different cycles, from short-lived shocks to longterm structural trends. We introduce the sum-of-the-cycles (SOC) method, which exploits this multifrequency structure of inflation for forecasting. SOC decomposes inflation into cyclical components,...

The yield curve is widely regarded as a powerful descriptor of the economy and market expectations. A common approach to its statistical representation relies on a small number of factors summarizing the curve, which can then be used to forecast real economic activity. We argue that optimal...

Purpose - This study aims to forecast the stock market behavior of BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) using advanced machine learning models. The focus is on identifying market trends, predicting future index prices and analyzing returns. Design/methodology/approach -...

The diverse rating scales used by brokerage firms pose significant challenges for aggregating analyst recommendations in financial research. We develop a momentum-based normalization framework that transforms heterogeneous rating changes into standardized sentiment signals using firm-relative,...

This study examines quantitative investment strategies for Brazilian equity funds, integrating traditional financial performance indicators with machine learning techniques to enhance fund selection. The main objective was to construct and validate predictive models for fund selection. The...

Banks often assume that higher credit limits increase customer default risk because greater exposure appears to imply greater vulnerability. This reasoning, however, conflates correlation with causation. Whether increasing a customer's credit limit truly raises the likelihood of default remains...

Financial risk early warning systems are essential for proactive risk management in volatile markets, particularly for emerging economies such as China. This study develops a hybrid deep learning model integrating Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Gated...

Interpretability analysis methods, such as LIME and SHAP, are widely employed to explain the predictions of artificial intelligence models; however, they primarily function as post hoc tools and do not directly quantify the intrinsic interpretability of the models. Although it is commonly...

Since 2021, Kalshi has operated as the only federally licensed prediction market in the United States. Using transaction-level data on over 300,000 contracts, we provide the first systematic evidence on its pricing. Kalshi's contract prices are informative and improve in accuracy as markets...

Worker productivity depends not only on hours worked, but also on how work time is actually used, and time-use evidence shows that non-work at work is non-trivial. This paper provides a data-driven characterization of shirking, and studies which observable characteristics best predict shirking...

Public support for policy interventions depends on citizens' beliefs about their likely effects. We examine how individuals form such beliefs by studying their predictions of experimental outcomes in a policy-relevant setting, and why their predictions differ from expert benchmarks. We elicit...

Recidivism is a persistent challenge for criminal justice systems worldwide, yet evidence from Latin America remains scarce. This study addresses that gap through three contributions. First, it reviews the individual, institutional, and contextual determinants of recidivism, with special...

Professional inflation forecasts contain valuable information but exhibit information frictions. We extract improved forecasts by explicitly modeling these frictions using the US Survey of Professional Forecasters data, and find that forecast rigidity increases systematically with horizon,...

Background: The transition toward Industry 4.0 and Supply Chain 5.0 requires performance measurement frameworks that integrate efficiency, digitalization, and sustainability indicators. Although the SCOR® 4.0 model provides standardized metrics, it lacks predictive capabilities under complex...

Background: This study examines the degree to which cognitive supply chain management (CSCM) indirectly enhances supply chain risk management (SCRM), addressing the lack of specific empirical research concerning the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Specifically, this study tests the...

The rapid expansion of small and medium enterprise (SME) lending has intensified the need for accurate and interpretable credit risk forecasting. Financial institutions must anticipate potential business loan delinquency to maintain portfolio stability and meet regulatory standards. This study...

Landslides claim more than 4,000 lives annually and lead to approximately US$20 billion in economic losses. However, landslide hazard, risk assessment, and early warning systems remain constrained by fragmented, inconsistent, and incomplete data. This study addresses the global data gap by...

This paper describes the Quarterly Macro Forecasting Framework (QMFF), which is a novel approach to macroeconomic policy analysis and forecasting. At the core of this framework is a Quarterly Projection Model, with main behavioral equations quantified as deviations of real variables from their...

The paper describes QMPM, the Quarterly Projection Model for the Bank of Algeria that underpins the Bank’s Forecasting and Policy Analysis System. The model is designed to capture the key features of the economy, including the importance of the hydrocarbon sector, sizable fiscal policy...

This Technical Assistance followed a request by the National Bank of Ukraine for a review of their existing Quarterly Projection Model (QPM) and Forecasting and Policy Analysis System (FPAS). Although the NBU had an established FPAS, which benefited from previous IMF TA, the existing model-based...

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of inflation in Timor-Leste—a post-conflict, low-income economy and small developing state that is fully dollarized. We find that Timorese inflation was high until about mid-2010 and was strongly influenced by swings in global food prices given its...

The IMF conducted a Technical Assistance (TA) mission to assist the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) in determining an appropriate policy rate and in implementing an effective liquidity management and forecasting framework. This TA mission serves as a follow-up to previous IMF TA, which...

The absence of reliable data on fundamental economic indicators (e.g. real GDP), combined with structural shifts in the economy, can severely constrain the ability to conduct accurate macroeconomic analysis and forecasting. This paper explores alternatives to address data limitations by...

Cambodia is not alone in facing capacity limitations in the production and timely release of key official statistics needed for data-driven policy decisions. This paper demonstrates that combining satellite-derived indicators (e.g., nighttime lights, NO₂ emissions, vegetation indices) with...