Technology shocks and aggregate fluctuations in an estimated hybrid RBC model

Malley, J. and Woitek, U. (2010) Technology shocks and aggregate fluctuations in an estimated hybrid RBC model. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 34(7), pp. 1214-1232. (doi: 10.1016/j.jedc.2010.01.017)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

This paper contributes to the on-going empirical debate regarding the role of the RBC model and in particular of neutral and investment-specific technology shocks in explaining aggregate fluctuations. To achieve this, we estimate the model's posterior density using Bayesian methods. Within this framework we first extend (Ireland, 2001b) and (Ireland, 2004a) hybrid estimation approach to allow for a vector autoregressive moving average (VARMA) process to describe the movements and co-movements of the model's errors not explained by the basic RBC model. Our main findings for the model with neutral technical change are: (i) the VARMA specification of the errors significantly improves the hybrid model's fit to the historical data relative to the VAR and AR alternatives; and (ii) despite setting the RBC model a more difficult task under the VARMA specification, neutral technology shocks are still capable of explaining a significant share of the observed variation in output and its components over shorter- and longer-forecast horizons as well as hours at shorter horizons. When the hybrid model is extended to incorporate investment shocks, we find that: (iii) the VAR specification is preferred to the alternatives; and (iv) the model's ability to explain fluctuations improves considerably.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Woitek, Prof Ulrich and Malley, Professor Jim
Authors: Malley, J., and Woitek, U.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics
Journal Name:Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control
ISSN:0165-1889
Published Online:06 February 2010

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record