The efficient market hypothesis gives rise to forecasting tests that mirror those adopted when testing the optimality of a forecast in the context of a given information set. However, there are also important differences arising from the fact that market efficiency tests rely on establishing...

This paper surveys recent developments related to the smooth transition autoregressive (STAR) time series model and several of its variants. We put emphasis on new methods for testing for STAR nonlinearity, model evaluation, and forecasting. Several useful extensions of the basic STAR model,...

Nonlinearity, and regime-switching behavior in particular, and structural change have often been perceived as competing alternatives to linearity. In this paper we propose a model, based on the principle of smooth transition, that allows for regime-switching behavior in conjunction with...

We address the problem of constructing and identifying a valid joint probability density function from a set of specified conditional densities. The approach taken is based on the development of relations between the joint and the conditional densities using Markov random fields (MRFs). We give...

The relative role of economic growth vis-a-vis public action in raising living standards in developing countries has been a point of contention for quite some time now. The arguments on both sides are usually based on some estimated relationship between indicators of living standard and other...

Time-series analysis of effects of pollutants on emergency hospital admissions indicates important synergistic interactions among pollutants and to a lesser degree nonlinearities in effects of single pollutants. Comparisons of alternative econometric specifications are made to determine the...

The paper is concerned with testing super exogeneity in a single equation that can either be linear or partially nonlinear. A joint test for testing both weak exogeneity and a form of invariance, which together amount to super exogeneity, is presented and its properties discussed. The...

The output elasticities of irrigation water are high inelastic for every crop, indicating that reductions in water supply would have relatively small effects on crop production. This article reports estimates of Cobb-Douglas and quadratic production functions for 13 irrigated crops in the 17...