Averaging Forecasts from Vars with Uncertain Instabilities

FRB of Kansas City Working Paper No. 06-12

FEDS Working Paper No. 2007-42

FRB of St. Louis Working Paper 2008-030B

25 Pages Posted: 28 Dec 2006

See all articles by Todd E. Clark

Todd E. Clark

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Michael W. McCracken

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Date Written: October 2009

Abstract

Recent work suggests VAR models of output, inflation, and interest rates may be prone to instabilities. In the face of such instabilities, a variety of estimation or forecasting methods might be used to improve the accuracy of forecasts from a VAR. The uncertainty inherent in any single representation of instability could mean that combining forecasts from a range of approaches will improve forecast accuracy. Focusing on models of U.S. output, prices, and interest rates, this paper examines the effectiveness of combining various models of instability in improving VAR forecasts made with real-time data.

Keywords: Forecast combination, real-time data, structural change

JEL Classification: C53, E37, C32

Suggested Citation

Clark, Todd E. and McCracken, Michael W., Averaging Forecasts from Vars with Uncertain Instabilities (October 2009). FRB of Kansas City Working Paper No. 06-12, FEDS Working Paper No. 2007-42, FRB of St. Louis Working Paper 2008-030B , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=942384 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.942384

Todd E. Clark (Contact Author)

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland ( email )

P.O. Box 6387
Cleveland, OH 44101
United States
216-579-2015 (Phone)

Michael W. McCracken

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis ( email )

411 Locust St
Saint Louis, MO 63011
United States

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