Bayesian inference is developed and applied for an extended Nelson–Siegel term structure model capturing interest rate risk. The so-called Stochastic Volatility Nelson–Siegel (SVNS) model allows for stochastic volatility in the underlying yield factors. A Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)...

This paper shows that an unobserved common factor drives the co-movement of government debt in the euro area. The old-age dependency ratio explains the factor after controlling for the Maastricht Treaty, the adoption of the euro, and the ongoing crisis.

This paper extends the diffusion index (DI) forecast approach of Stock and Watson (1998, 2002) to the case of possibly nonlinear dynamic factor models. When the number of series is large, a two-step procedure based on the principal components method is useful since it allows the wide variety of...

Convergence in gross domestic product series of five European countries is empirically identified using multivariate time series models that are based on unobserved components with dynamic converging properties. We define convergence in terms of a decrease in dispersion over time and model this...

Convergence in gross domestic product series of five European countriesis empirically identified using multivariate time series models that arebased on unobserved components with dynamic converging properties.We define convergence in terms of a decrease in dispersion over timeand model this...