A correlated bivariate Poisson jump model for foreign exchange

This paper develops a new bivariate jump model to study jump dynamics in foreign exchange returns. The model extends a multivariate GARCH parameterization to include a bivariate correlated jump process. The conditional covariance matrix has the Baba, Engle, Kraft, and Kroner (1989) structure, while the bivariate jumps are governed by a Correlated Bivariate Poisson (CBP) function. Using daily data we find evidence of both independent currency specific jumps, as well as jumps common to both exchange rates of the Canadian dollar and Japanese Yen against the U.S. dollar. The paper concludes by investigating a time-varying structure for the arrival of jumps that relaxes the assumption of constant and bounded jump correlation imposed by the CBP function.I am indebted to two anonymous referees and the editor, Baldev Raj for helpful suggestions. I am also grateful for helpful comments from Adolf Buse, Ramazan Gencay, Rehim Kilic, John Maheu, Alex Maynard, Denis Pelletier, Denise Young, and seminar participants at the Tenth Annual Symposium of the Society for Nonlinear Dynamics and Econometrics (SNDE), Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta 2002; the Midwest Econometrics Group (MEG) Meetings, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City 2001; Canadian Economics Association (CEA) Meetings, McGill University 2001.     

Smoothing the payoff for efficient computation of Basket option prices

We consider the problem of pricing basket options in a multivariate Black–Scholes or Variance-Gamma model. From a numerical point of view, pricing such options corresponds to moderate and high-dimensional numerical integration problems with non-smooth integrands. Due to this lack of regularity, higher order numerical integration techniques may not be directly available, requiring the use of methods like Monte Carlo specifically designed to work for non-regular problems. We propose to use the inherent smoothing property of the density of the underlying in the above models to mollify the payoff function by means of an exact conditional expectation. The resulting conditional expectation is unbiased and yields a smooth integrand, which is amenable to the efficient use of adaptive sparse-grid cubature. Numerical examples indicate that the high-order method may perform orders of magnitude faster than Monte Carlo or Quasi Monte Carlo methods in dimensions up to 35.     

外商直接投资、政府支出对中国技术进步效应的经验分析

本文将外商直接投资和政府支出结合起来,主要通过建立时变参数模型,利用我国2000～2014 年的数据,对比分析外商直接投资、政府支出对我国技术进步的影响。根据分析结果提出对 策建议,加快我国技术进步的速度必须依靠政府的力量,增加教育投入,调整政府科技投入 结构和加强对科技资金的管理以及提高利用外商直接投资的质量。     

Quasi-longitudinal Designs in SEM state Space Modeling

The collection of longitudinal data over the full model time scope is often an appropriate way to estimate the dynamic state space model with time-varying parameters. Nevertheless, in many situations it is possible and preferable to collect and combine data from independent groups of subjects, each covering a shorter interval than the full dynamic model. Several quasi-longitudinal designs are discussed: overlapping designs (overlapping cohort design OCD and overlapping samples design OSD) as well as nonoverlapping designs up to the exclusively cross-sectional design. The use of the structural equation modeling (SEM) program Mx and continuous time state space modeling is recommended. Finally, a number of the quasi-longitudinal designs is empirically evaluated, comparing the results with those of the full-longitudinal design.     

Modeling Foreign Exchange Risk Premium in Armenia

This paper applies stochastic discount factor methodology to modeling the foreign exchange risk premium in Armenia. We use weekly data on foreign and domestic currency deposits, which coexist in the Armenian banking system. This coexistence implies elimination of the cross-country risks and transaction costs, leaving the pure foreign exchange risk. It is shown that there exists a systematic time-varying risk premium that increases with maturity. Using two-currency affine term structure and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH)-in-mean models, we find that the central bank's foreign exchange market interventions and ratio-of-deposit volumes significantly affect public expectations about foreign exchange fluctuations. We also find that the foreign exchange risk premium accounts for the largest part of the interest differential. When accounting for economic and institutional differences, our results can be extended to other countries.     

The dynamics of inflation: a study of a large number of countries

Over the last twenty years the statistical properties of inflation persistence has been the subject of intense investigation and debate without reaching a unanimous conclusion yet. In this article we attempt to shed further light to this debate using a battery of econometric techniques in order to provide robust evidence on the degree of inflation persistence and whether this has changed during the period in which several countries have followed inflation-targeting regimes or new monetary regimes. We consider the inflation rates of thirty developed and emerging economies using quarterly data for the period 1958 to 2007 which include alternative monetary policy regimes. The coefficient of the inflation parameter is estimated by Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) and Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (ARFIMA) models. Furthermore, the grid-bootstrap Median Unbiased (MUB) estimator approach developed by Hansen (1999) is used to estimate the finite sample OLS estimates coupled with the 95% symmetric confidence interval. We also examine parameter stability of persistence coefficients by estimating a model with time-varying parameters.     

Sorting, Firm Characteristics, and Time-varying Risk: An Econometric Analysis

We show that sorting reveals the time-varying market risk exposuresof the firm-specific investment opportunity set. Sorting onthe basis of firm characteristics uncovers information on firm-specificdistress or growth, and this leads to more efficient estimationof conditional risk sensitivity. We demonstrate the effectivenessof the sorting methodology with an empirical exercise that teststhe conditional capital asset pricing model (CAPM). When measuredproperly using sorting and firm characteristics, conditionalbetas, along with size and the book-market ratio, are significantdrivers of expected returns.     

The cross-country impact of ECB policies: Asymmetries in – Asymmetries out?

Since its inception, the adequacy of the Eurozone to be an Optimal Currency Area has been questioned, and, along with it, the homogeneous transmission and impact of the monetary impulses across the member countries. We provide a comprehensive assessment of the transmission mechanism’s functioning, its symmetry, impact on target variables, and evolution, addressing all the questions which have remained unanswered in the previous literature, while adding evidence on the impact of non-standard policy measures. We do so by adopting a Bayesian Time-Varying Parameters FAVAR model that fixes the flaws present in past research. The empirical analysis shows that the occurrence of the two crises significantly altered policy transmission, with both the interest rate and credit channel being consistently affected. It also shows that while they provided effective stimuli to the economies, the unconventional measures implemented were not able to fix those asymmetries. Policy-wise, our findings suggest that authorities must push towards consistent innovation on the fiscal side, while gaining more confidence with regards to the new monetary toolkit.     

The time-varying effect of monetary policy in China

A sound understanding of monetary transmission mechanism is valuable because it helps the central bank to determine the proper course of monetary policy to balance growth and inflation. As China’s domestic financial markets deepen and develop further towards a market-based system, the country’s monetary policy instrument and transmission should continue to improve for managing economic conditions. Using a short-term key interest rate as standard monetary policy tool and time-varying parameter techniques, this study empirically demonstrates that China’s monetary policy framework is in the midst of transitioning to a market-based approach.