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Term spread regressions of the rational expectations hypothesis of the term structure allowing for risk premium effects

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  • Argyropoulos Efthymios

    (Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), Athens 104 34, Greece)

  • Tzavalis Elias

    (Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), Athens 104 34, Greece)

Abstract

This paper suggests a new empirical methodology of testing the predictions of the term spread between long and short-term interest rates about future changes of the former allowing for term premium effects, according to the rational expectations hypothesis of the term structure. To capture the effects of a time-varying term premium on the term spread, the paper relies on an empirically attractive affine Gaussian dynamic term structure model which assumes that the term structure of interest rates is spanned by three unobserved state variables. To retrieve accurate values of these variables from interest rates series, the paper suggests a new method which can overcome the effects of measurement (or pricing) errors inherent in these series on the estimates of the model. This method is assessed by a Monte Carlo study. Ignoring these errors will lead to biased estimates of term structure models. The empirical results of the paper provide support for the suggested term structure model. They show that this model can efficiently capture the time-varying term premium effects embodied in long-term interest rates, which can explain the failures of term spread to forecast future changes in long-term rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Argyropoulos Efthymios & Tzavalis Elias, 2015. "Term spread regressions of the rational expectations hypothesis of the term structure allowing for risk premium effects," Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, De Gruyter, vol. 19(1), pages 49-70, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:sndecm:v:19:y:2015:i:1:p:49-70:n:2
    DOI: 10.1515/snde-2012-0024
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    Cited by:

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    2. Elias, Nikolaos & Smyrnakis, Dimitris & Tzavalis, Elias, 2022. "Predicting future exchange rate changes based on interest rates and holding-period returns differentials net of the forward risk premium effects," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 694-715.
    3. Argyropoulos, Efthymios & Tzavalis, Elias, 2016. "Forecasting economic activity from yield curve factors," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 293-311.
    4. Efthymios Argyropoulos & Nikolaos Elias & Dimitris Smyrnakis & Elias Tzavalis, 2021. "Can country-specific interest rate factors explain the forward premium anomaly?," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 45(2), pages 252-269, April.
    5. Argyropoulos, Efthymios & Tzavalis, Elias, 2021. "The influence of real interest rates and risk premium effects on the ability of the nominal term structure to forecast inflation," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 785-796.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    affine term structure model; principal components; rational expectations hypothesis of the term structure of interest rates; time-varying term premium;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects

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