A general estimation approach combining the attractive features of method of moments with the efficiency of ML is proposed. The moment conditions are computed via the characteristic function. The two major difficulties with the implementation is that one needs to use an infinite set of moment conditions leading to the singularity of the covariance matrix in the GMM context, and the optimal instrument yielding the ML efficiency was previously shown to depend on the unknown probability density function. We resolve the two problems simultaneously in the framework of C-GMM (GMM with a continuum of moment conditions). First, we prove asymptotic properties of the C-GMM estimator applied to dependent data and then provide a reformulation of the estimator that enhances its computational ease. Second, we propose to span the unknown optimal instrument by an infinite basis consisting of simple exponential functions. Since the estimation framework already relies on a continuum of moment conditions, adding a continuum of spanning functions does not pose any problems. As a result, we achieve ML efficiency when we use the values of conditional CF indexed by its argument as moment functions. We also introduce HAC-type estimators so that the estimation methods are not restricted to settings involving martingale difference sequences. Hence, our methods apply to Markovian and nail-Markovian dynamic models. Finally, a simulated method of moments type estimator is proposed to deal with the cases where the characteristic function does not have a closed-form expression. Extensive Monte-Carlo study based on the models typically used in term-structure literature favorably documents the performance of our methodology.
L'estimation des processus de diffusion (affine ou à sauts) est problématique car l'expression de la vraisemblance n'est pas disponible. D'un autre côté, la fonction caractéristique de ces modèles est souvent connue. Cet article propose un estimateur du type méthode des moments généralisés (GMM) fondé sur la fonction caractéristique. Comme l'on dispose d'un continuum de conditions de moments, on utilise une méthode spécifique appelée C-GMM. On dérive les propriétés asymptotiques de l'estimateur et discute son implémentation en pratique. Dans le contexte d'un processus markovien, une condition de moment conditionnelle résulte de la fonction caractéristique conditionnelle. Une question importante est le choix de l'instrument optimal. On montre que, lorsque l'instrument est une fonction exponentielle, l'estimateur C-GMM est asymptotiquement aussi efficace que l'estimateur du maximum de vraisemblance. Il faut noter que la méthode C-GMM n'est pas limitée aux processus markoviens et s'applique à des modèles dynamiques très généraux. De plus, on propose une méthode des moments simulés qui permet de traiter le cas où l'expression de la fonction caractéristique n'est pas connue. Finalement, une étude de Monte Carlo sur des modèles fréquemment utilisés en finance montre que notre estimateur a de bonnes propriétés.
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
file. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
Gourieroux, C & Monfort, A & Renault, E, 1993.
"Indirect Inference,"
Journal of Applied Econometrics,
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 8(S), pages S85-118, Suppl. De.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
Other versions:
Gourieroux, C. & Monfort, A & Renault, E., 1992.
"Indirect Inference,"
Working Papers
9215, Centre de Recherche en Economie et Statistique.
Gourieroux, C. & Monfort, A. & Renault, E., 1992.
"Indirect Inference,"
Papers
92.279, Toulouse - GREMAQ.
Ghysels, E. & Harvey, A. & Renault, E., 1995.
"Stochastic Volatility,"
Papers
95.400, Toulouse - GREMAQ.
Other versions:
Ghysels, E. & Harvey, A. & Renault, E., 1996.
"Stochastic Volatility,"
Cahiers de recherche
9613, Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en économie quantitative, CIREQ.
Ghysels, E. & Harvey, A. & Renault, E., 1996.
"Stochastic Volatility,"
Cahiers de recherche
9613, Universite de Montreal, Departement de sciences economiques.
[Downloadable!]
Cited by: (explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)