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Identifying Structural VARs with a Proxy Variable and a Test for a Weak Proxy

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  • Kurt Graden Lunsford

Abstract

This paper develops a simple estimator to identify structural shocks in vector autoregressions (VARs) by using a proxy variable that is correlated with the structural shock of interest but uncorrelated with other structural shocks. When the proxy variable is weak, modeled as local to zero, the estimator is inconsistent and converges to a distribution. This limiting distribution is characterized, and the estimator is shown to be asymptotically biased when the proxy variable is weak. The F statistic from the projection of the proxy variable onto the VAR errors can be used to test for a weak proxy variable, and the critical values for different VAR dimensions, levels of asymptotic bias, and levels of statistical significance are provided. An important feature of this F statistic is that its asymptotic distribution does not depend on parameters that need to be estimated.

Suggested Citation

  • Kurt Graden Lunsford, 2015. "Identifying Structural VARs with a Proxy Variable and a Test for a Weak Proxy," Working Papers (Old Series) 1528, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedcwp:1528
    DOI: 10.26509/frbc-wp-201528
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Giovanni Angelini & Luca Fanelli, 2019. "Exogenous uncertainty and the identification of structural vector autoregressions with external instruments," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(6), pages 951-971, September.
    2. Laurent Ferrara & Luca Metelli & Filippo Natoli & Daniele Siena, 2020. "Questioning the puzzle: Fiscal policy, exchange rate and inflation," Working papers 752, Banque de France.
    3. Ettmeier, Stephanie & Kriwoluzky, Alexander, 2019. "Same, but different? Testing monetary policy shock measures," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    4. Liao, Wenting & Ma, Jun & Zhang, Chengsi, 2024. "Commodity returns co-movement, uncertainty shocks, and the US dollar exchange rate," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    5. Ramey, V.A., 2016. "Macroeconomic Shocks and Their Propagation," Handbook of Macroeconomics, in: J. B. Taylor & Harald Uhlig (ed.), Handbook of Macroeconomics, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 71-162, Elsevier.
    6. Giacomini, Raffaella & Kitagawa, Toru & Read, Matthew, 2022. "Robust Bayesian inference in proxy SVARs," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 228(1), pages 107-126.
    7. Arias, Jonas E. & Rubio-Ramírez, Juan F. & Waggoner, Daniel F., 2021. "Inference in Bayesian Proxy-SVARs," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(1), pages 88-106.
    8. Aeimit Lakdawala, 2019. "Decomposing the effects of monetary policy using an external instruments SVAR," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(6), pages 934-950, September.
    9. Michael Ryan, 2020. "A Narrative Approach to Creating Instruments with Unstructured and Voluminous Text: An Application to Policy Uncertainty," Working Papers in Economics 20/10, University of Waikato.
    10. Carsten Jentsch & Kurt G. Lunsford, 2022. "Asymptotically Valid Bootstrap Inference for Proxy SVARs," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(4), pages 1876-1891, October.
    11. Herwartz, Helmut & Rohloff, Hannes & Wang, Shu, 2022. "Proxy SVAR identification of monetary policy shocks - Monte Carlo evidence and insights for the US," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    12. Bruns, Martin & Lütkepohl, Helmut, 2024. "Heteroskedastic proxy vector autoregressions: An identification-robust test for time-varying impulse responses in the presence of multiple proxies," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    13. Andrew Keinsley & Shu Wu, 2020. "Marginal Income Tax Rates, Economic Growth, and Primary Fiscal Deficits," Public Finance Review, , vol. 48(5), pages 676-705, September.
    14. Dominik Bertsche, 2019. "The effects of oil supply shocks on the macroeconomy: a Proxy-FAVAR approachThe effects of oil supply shocks on the macroeconomy: a Proxy-FAVAR approach," Working Paper Series of the Department of Economics, University of Konstanz 2019-06, Department of Economics, University of Konstanz.
    15. Pascal Paul, 2020. "The Time-Varying Effect of Monetary Policy on Asset Prices," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 102(4), pages 690-704, October.
    16. G. Angelini & L. Fanelli, 2018. "Identification and estimation issues in Structural Vector Autoregressions with external instruments," Working Papers wp1122, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    F Statistic; Productivity Shocks; proxy variables; Structural Vector Autoregression; total factor productivity; Weak IV;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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