This paper extends and generalizes the BDS test presented by Brock, Dechert, Scheinkman, and LeBaron (1996). In doing so it aims to remove the limitation of having to arbitrarily select a proximity parameter by integrating across the correlation integral. The Monte Carlo simulation is used to...

We examine the accuracy of survey-based expectations of the Chilean exchange rate relative to the US dollar. Our out-of-sample analysis reveals that survey-based forecasts outperform the Driftless Random Walk (DRW) in terms of Mean Squared Prediction Error at several forecasting horizons. This...

Macroeconomic practitioners frequently work with multivariate time series models such as VARs, factor augmented VARs as well as time-varying parameter versions of these models (including variants with multivariate stochastic volatility). These models have a large number of parameters and, thus,...

This report presents an application of a macro stress testing procedure on credit risk in the Romanian banking system. Macro stress testing, i.e. assessing the vulnerability of financial systems to exceptional but plausible macroeconomic scenarios, maintains a central role in macro-prudential...

This paper proposes a variational Bayes algorithm for computationally efficient posterior and predictive inference in time-varying parameter (TVP) models. Within this context we specify a new dynamic variable/model selection strategy for TVP dynamic regression models in the presence of a large...

The Two-Stage Least Squares (2-SLS) is a well known econometric technique used to estimate the parameters of a multi-equation (or simultaneous equations) econometric model when errors across the equations are not correlated and the equation(s) concerned is (are) over-identified or exactly...

We propose a theoretical approach to bandwidth choice for continuous-time Markov processes. We do so in the context of stationary and nonstationary processes of the recurrent kind. The procedure consists of two steps. In the first step, by invoking local Gaussianity, we suggest an automated...

This dissertation focuses on forecasting rare macroeconomic events, such as GDP declines and currency crises, using non-parametric methods, highlighting the advantages of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves analysis and the value of qualitative information from expert surveys and...

The paper outlines and tests, by means of Monte-Carlo simulations, a simple strategy of using existing non-parametric tests for jumps at the daily frequency to identify jumps at higher sampling frequencies. The suggested strategy allow for identi�cation of the number of jumps and jump times...

Investor behavior towards risk lies at the heart of economic decision making in general and modern investment theory and practice in particular. This paper uses both the mean-variance (MV) criterion and stochastic dominance (SD) procedures to analyze the preferences for four of the most widely...