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Using Internet Data to Account for Special Events in Economic Forecasting

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  • Schmidt, Torsten
  • Vosen, Simeon

Abstract

Information about special events can improve economic forecasts substantially. However, due to the lack of timely quantitative data about these events, it has been difficult for professional forecasters to utilise such information in their forecasts. This paper investigates whether Internet search data can improve economic predictions in times of special events. An analysis of 'cash for clunkers' programs in four selected countries exemplifies that including search query data into statistical forecasting models improves the forecasting performance in almost all cases. However, the challenge to identify irregular events and to find the appropriate time series from Google Insights for search remains.

Suggested Citation

  • Schmidt, Torsten & Vosen, Simeon, 2012. "Using Internet Data to Account for Special Events in Economic Forecasting," Ruhr Economic Papers 382, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:382
    DOI: 10.4419/86788437
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Pete Richardson, 2018. "Nowcasting and the Use of Big Data in Short-Term Macroeconomic Forecasting: A Critical Review," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 505-506, pages 65-87.
    2. Pietro Giorgio Lovaglio & Mario Mezzanzanica & Emilio Colombo, 2020. "Comparing time series characteristics of official and web job vacancy data," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 85-98, February.
    3. Feld, Lars P. & Hirsch, Patrick F. & Köhler, Ekkehard A. & Wolfinger, Julia & Döhrn, Roland & Fuest, Angela & Micheli, Martin, 2017. "Auswirkungen der Rettungsprogramme auf die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der Programmländer Portugal und Irland. Endbericht," RWI Projektberichte, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, number 177813, Fall.
    4. Vicente, María Rosalía & López-Menéndez, Ana J. & Pérez, Rigoberto, 2015. "Forecasting unemployment with internet search data: Does it help to improve predictions when job destruction is skyrocketing?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 132-139.
    5. Karolien Lenaerts & Miroslav Beblavý & Brian Fabo, 2016. "Prospects for utilisation of non-vacancy Internet data in labour market analysis—an overview," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Seabold,Skipper & Coppola,Andrea, 2015. "Nowcasting prices using Google trends : an application to Central America," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7398, The World Bank.
    7. Fabo, B., 2017. "Towards an understanding of job matching using web data," Other publications TiSEM b8b877f2-ae6a-495f-b6cc-9, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    8. María Gil & Javier J. Pérez & Alberto Urtasun, 2019. "Nowcasting private consumption: traditional indicators, uncertainty measures, credit cards and some internet data," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), The use of big data analytics and artificial intelligence in central banking, volume 50, Bank for International Settlements.
    9. Alberto Urtasun & Mara Gil & Javier J. Perez, 2017. "Nowcasting private consumption: traditional indicators, uncertainty measures, and the role of internet search query data," EcoMod2017 10745, EcoMod.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    forecast adjustment; Google Trends; private consumption;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E27 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications

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