Regime switching models : real or spurious long memory ?

In this paper, we analyze the possible confusion in terms of long memory behavior of the autocorrelation function of a Markov switching model. Such a model is known to have a short memory behavior. Analyzing the value of sum of the transition probabilities and the number of switches inside such a model, we show their impact to create long memory. The ability of the true Markov switching model to predict is compared with the forecasts obtained from a long memory process adjusted on data derived from the former model. It is shown that, in certain cases, this spurious long memory behavior can be benefit to get better forecasts.