Hypothesis testing and finite sample properties of generalized method of moments estimators: a Monte Carlo study

Econometric methods based on the first-order conditions of intertemporal optimization models have gained increasing popularity in recent years. To a large extent, this development stems from the celebrated Lucas critique, which argued forcibly that traditional econometric models are not structural with respect to changes in the economic environment caused by policy regime shifts. The generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation procedure developed by Hansen (1982) is a leading example of a large research program in estimating parameters of taste and technology that are arguably invariant to shifts in policy rules. This estimation procedure has been used by many researchers to estimate nonlinear rational expectations models and has a major impact on the practice of macroeconomics.