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What Is in Your Output Gap? Unified Framework & Decomposition into Observables

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  • Michal Andrle

Abstract

This paper discusses several popular methods to estimate the ‘output gap’. It provides a unified, natural concept for the analysis, and demonstrates how to decompose the output gap into contributions of observed data on output, inflation, unemployment, and other variables. A simple bar-chart of contributing factors, in the case of multi-variable methods, sharpens the intuition behind the estimates and ultimately shows ‘what is in your output gap.’ The paper demonstrates how to interpret effects of data revisions and new data releases for output gap estimates (news effects) and how to obtain more insight into real-time properties of estimators.

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  • Michal Andrle, 2013. "What Is in Your Output Gap? Unified Framework & Decomposition into Observables," IMF Working Papers 2013/105, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2013/105
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    6. Marko Melolinna & Máté Tóth, 2019. "Output gaps, inflation and financial cycles in the UK," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1039-1070, March.
    7. Michael Fritsch & Alina Sorgner & Michael Wyrwich & Evguenii Zazdravnykh, 2016. "Historical shocks and persistence of economic activity: evidence from a unique natural experiment," HSE Working papers WP BRP 143/EC/2016, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    8. Kátay Gábor & Kerdelhué Lisa & Lequien Matthieu, 2020. "Semi-Structural VAR and Unobserved Components Models to Estimate Finance-Neutral Output Gap," Working papers 791, Banque de France.
    9. Nicholas Sander, 2013. "Fresh perspectives on unobservable variables: Data decomposition of the Kalman smoother," Reserve Bank of New Zealand Analytical Notes series AN2013/09, Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
    10. Ms. Pritha Mitra & Amr Hosny & Gohar Abajyan & Mr. Mark Fischer, 2015. "Estimating Potential Growth in the Middle East and Central Asia," IMF Working Papers 2015/062, International Monetary Fund.
    11. Salnikov, Vladimir & Galimov, Dmitry & Mikheeva, Olga & Gnidchenko, Andrey & Rybalka, Alexey, 2017. "Russian manufacturing production capacity: Primary trends and structural characteristics," Russian Journal of Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 240-262.
    12. Alexander Yu. Apokin & Irina B. Ipatova, 2016. "Structural Breaks in Potential GDP Of Three Major Economies: Just Impaired Credit or the “New Normal”?," HSE Working papers WP BRP 142/EC/2016, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    13. Fasolo, Angelo M. & Araujo, Eurilton & Jorge, Marcos Valli & Kornelius, Alexandre & Marinho, Leonardo Sousa Gomes, 2024. "Brazilian macroeconomic dynamics redux: Shocks, frictions, and unemployment in SAMBA model," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 5(2).
    14. Melolinna, Marko & Tóth, Máté, 2016. "Output gaps, inflation and financial cycles in the United Kingdom," Bank of England working papers 585, Bank of England.
    15. Frantisek Brazdik & Zuzana Humplova & Frantisek Kopriva, 2014. "Evaluating a Structural Model Forecast: Decomposition Approach," Research and Policy Notes 2014/02, Czech National Bank.
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