We propose a conditional model of asset returns in the presence of common factors and downside risk. Specifically, we generalize existing latent factor models in three ways: we show how to estimate the threshold which identifies the 'disappointment' event triggering the bad state of the world; we...

This paper provides a simple, yet reliable, alternative to the (Bayesian) estimation of large multivariate VARs with time variation in the conditional mean equations and/or in the covariance structure. With our new methodology, the original multivariate, n-dimensional model is treated as a set...

Based on Godambe's theory of estimating functions, we propose a class of cumulative sum (CUSUM) statistics to detect breaks in the dynamics of time series under weak assumptions. First, we assume a parametric form for the conditional mean, but make no specific assumption about the...

We propose a new approach to detect and quantify informal employment resulting from irregular migration shocks. Focusing on a largely informal sector, agriculture, and on the exogenous variation from the Arab Spring wave on southern Italian coasts, we use machine-learning techniques to document...