Estimates of Real Economic Activity in Switzerland, 1885-1930

23 Pages Posted: 13 Aug 2002

See all articles by Stefan Gerlach

Stefan Gerlach

Central Bank of Ireland; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Petra Gerlach-Kristen

Swiss National Bank

Date Written: June 2002

Abstract

This Paper uses annual data spanning 1870 to 1930 on a set of variables correlated with business conditions to construct an index of real economic activity in Switzerland. We extract an estimate of the common component of the data series using principal components analysis and the unobservable variables approach proposed by Stock and Watson (1989, 1991). The resulting index is similar to, but displays more variation over time than, that constructed by Andrist, Anderson and Williams (2000).

Keywords: Swiss economic history, principal components, coincident indicator

JEL Classification: E32, N13, N14

Suggested Citation

Gerlach, Stefan and Gerlach-Kristen, Petra, Estimates of Real Economic Activity in Switzerland, 1885-1930 (June 2002). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=323362

Stefan Gerlach (Contact Author)

Central Bank of Ireland ( email )

P.O. Box 559
Dame Street
Dublin, 2
Ireland

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

London
United Kingdom

Petra Gerlach-Kristen

Swiss National Bank ( email )

Borsenstrasse 15
CH-8022 Zurich
Switzerland

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