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A Coincident Index, Common Factors, and Monthly Real GDP *
Author(s) -
Mariano Roberto S.,
Murasawa Yasutomo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
oxford bulletin of economics and statistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.131
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1468-0084
pISSN - 0305-9049
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0084.2009.00567.x
Subject(s) - econometrics , index (typography) , stock market index , mathematics , gaussian , vector autoregression , real gross domestic product , economics , statistics , computer science , stock market , geography , context (archaeology) , world wide web , physics , archaeology , quantum mechanics
The Stock–Watson coincident index and its subsequent extensions assume a static linear one‐factor model for the component indicators. This restrictive assumption is unnecessary if one defines a coincident index as an estimate of monthly real gross domestic products (GDP). This paper estimates Gaussian vector autoregression (VAR) and factor models for latent monthly real GDP and other coincident indicators using the observable mixed‐frequency series. For maximum likelihood estimation of a VAR model, the expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm helps in finding a good starting value for a quasi‐Newton method. The smoothed estimate of latent monthly real GDP is a natural extension of the Stock–Watson coincident index.