How Far Can the Long-Run Risk Model with Durable Goods Explain the Variation of the Yield Curve?

A consumption-based, long-run risk equilibrium model with nondurable and durable goods is estimated using US nominal interest rate data. The model generates upward-sloping nominal yield curves and nearly flat real yield curves, implying that the term structure of inflation risk premia is upward-sloping. Though both nondurable and durable consumption have statistically significant explanatory power for the movement of the short-term nominal rate, the overall explanatory power of the model is small. Our results suggest that the model's performance in explaining the equity premium found in previous studies may be due to overstatement of the importance of durable consumption in investor preferences. (JEL classification: G12)