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Real-time GDP forecasting for Japan: A dynamic factor model approach

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  • Urasawa, Satoshi

Abstract

Accurate and timely information on GDP is important to gauge the overall state of the economy and is thus essential for economic policymaking. A single-index dynamic factor model is estimated using mixed-frequency data on GDP, industrial production, employment, private consumption and exports to obtain early estimates of Japan’s quarterly GDP growth in real time. The results of a real-time forecasting exercise suggest the model performs well in comparison to the consensus forecasts, in terms both of its accuracy, measured by the size of forecast errors, to predict actual GDP estimates, and of its ability to signal turning points in GDP, showing the advantage of using the model for early assessment of ongoing economic activities in Japan. An equally important goal of this study is to share with other forecasters the results of ongoing real-time GDP forecasts for Japan, aiming at increasing knowledge regarding Japan’s GDP forecasting.

Suggested Citation

  • Urasawa, Satoshi, 2014. "Real-time GDP forecasting for Japan: A dynamic factor model approach," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 116-134.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:34:y:2014:i:c:p:116-134
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jjie.2014.05.005
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kyosuke Chikamatsu, Naohisa Hirakata, Yosuke Kido, Kazuki Otaka, 2018. "Nowcasting Japanese GDPs," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series 18-E-18, Bank of Japan.
    3. Fumio Hayashi & Yuta Tachi, 2023. "Nowcasting Japan’s GDP," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(4), pages 1699-1735, April.
    4. Aldona Migala-Warchol & Agata Surowka, 2022. "Forecasting Macroeconomic Indicators for Selected European Union Countries," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2), pages 420-431.
    5. Morita, Hiroshi, 2022. "Forecasting GDP growth using stock returns in Japan: A factor-augmented MIDAS approach," Discussion paper series HIAS-E-118, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University.
    6. Iiboshi, Hirokuni & Matsumae, Tatsuyoshi & Namba, Ryoichi & Nishiyama, Shin-Ichi, 2015. "Estimating a DSGE model for Japan in a data-rich environment," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 25-55.
    7. Satoshi Urasawa, 2023. "The Usefulness of High-Frequency Alternative Data to Obtain Nowcasts for Japan’s GDP: Evidence from Credit Card Data," Journal of Business Cycle Research, Springer;Centre for International Research on Economic Tendency Surveys (CIRET), vol. 19(2), pages 191-211, September.
    8. Rudrani Bhattacharya & Bornali Bhandari & Sudipto Mundle, 2023. "Nowcasting India’s Quarterly GDP Growth: A Factor-Augmented Time-Varying Coefficient Regression Model (FA-TVCRM)," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 21(1), pages 213-234, March.
    9. Nana Geng & Yong Zhang & Yixiang Sun & Yunjian Jiang & Dandan Chen, 2015. "Forecasting China’s Annual Biofuel Production Using an Improved Grey Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-20, October.
    10. Chikamatsu, Kyosuke & Hirakata, Naohisa & Kido, Yosuke & Otaka, Kazuki, 2021. "Mixed-frequency approaches to nowcasting GDP: An application to Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    11. Koki Kyo & Hideo Noda & Genshiro Kitagawa, 2022. "Co-movement of Cyclical Components Approach to Construct a Coincident Index of Business Cycles," Journal of Business Cycle Research, Springer;Centre for International Research on Economic Tendency Surveys (CIRET), vol. 18(1), pages 101-127, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Business cycle indicator; Early GDP estimate; Forecast accuracy; Real-time data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • E17 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications

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