This paper analyzes the Japanese government bond (JGB) yield curve using the Black-Gorovoi-Linetsky (BGL) model of interest rates as options with a view to monitoring the JGB market expectations about the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) zero interest rate policy (ZIRP). Main findings are as follows....

Since the 1990s, fund raising behavior of Japanese companies has significantly changed. We conducted empirical studies based on the companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Our findings can be summarized as follows. (i) The debt-equity ratio of companies with relatively...

This article investigates the flexibility hypothesis of stock repurchases relative to dividends using the panel data of 577 Japanese firms. The estimation result of the partial adjustment model shows that the coefficient of adjustment speed towards the target payouts is higher for total payouts...

Japan has suffered from long-lasting but mild deflation since the latter half of the 1990s. Estimates of a standard Phillips curve indicate that a decline in inflation expectations, the negative output gap, and other factors such as a decline in import prices and a higher exchange rate, all...

Equilibrium nominal interest rates are useful indicators for both monetary policy authorities and market players. However, there are few studies which estimate Japan's equilibrium rate because of its persistent low interest rate. We overcome this challenge by using survey forecasts of interest...

We propose a simple and tractable method to estimate linear DSGE models with the zero lower bound on nominal interest rates. Our method makes use of forward rate curves in order to take into account the effects of the zero lower bound on equilibrium endogenous variables without relying on...

This paper provides a brief explanation and a detailed documentation of the current version of the Quarterly Japanese Economic Model (Q-JEM), which has been developed and constantly updated since the mid-2000s at Research and Statistics Department, Bank of Japan. Q-JEM is a large-scale...

This paper estimates an affine term structure model (ATSM) and a shadow rate model (SRM) using Japanese, US, and UK data until March 2013. These models produce very different results, which are attributable to the ATSM's neglect of the zero lower bound (ZLB). The 10-year term premium estimated...

A macro-finance model combined with Black's (1995) model of interest rates as options is employed to investigate the relationship between the yield curve and monetary policy under Japan's zero interest rate environment. The results indicate a strong effect on nominal yields, but not on real...

Repurchase Agreements (Repo) transactions are widely used as a risk-free means of raising or investing funds. Repo transactions can be categorized into the following two types: (i) general repos whose purpose is to borrow or lend funds, and (ii) special repos whose purpose is to borrow or lend...