This paper discusses how the forecast accuracy of a Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) is affected by introducing the zero lower bound on the federal funds rate. As a benchmark I adopt a common BVAR specification, including 18 variables, estimated shrinkage, and no nonlinearity. Then I...

Forecast models with large cross-sections are often subject to overparameterization leading to unstable parameter estimates and hence inaccurate forecasts. Recent articles suggest that a large Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) with sufficient prior information dominates competing approaches....

This paper discusses how the forecast accuracy of a Bayesian vector autoregression(BVAR) is affected by introducing the zero lower bound on the federal funds rate. As abenchmark I adopt a common BVAR specification, including 18 variables, estimatedshrinkage, and no nonlinearity. Then I entertain...