Testing for random coefficient autoregressive and stochastic unit root models

The random coefficient autoregressive model has been utilized for modeling financial time series because it possesses features that are often observed in financial time series. When the mean of the random coefficient is one, it is called the stochastic unit root model. This paper proposes two Lagrange multiplier tests for the null hypotheses of random coefficient autoregressive and stochastic unit root models against a more general model. We apply our Lagrange multiplier tests to several stock index data, and find that the stochastic unit root model is rejected, whereas the random coefficient autoregressive model is not. This result indicates that it is important to check the validity of the stochastic unit root model prior to applying it to financial time series data, which may be better modeled by the random coefficient autoregressive model with the mean being not equal to one.

NONSTATIONARY LINEAR PROCESSES WITH INFINITE VARIANCE GARCH ERRORS

Recently, Cavaliere, Georgiev, and Taylor (2018, Econometric Theory 34, 302–348) (CGT) considered the augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) test for a unit-root model with linear noise driven by i.i.d. infinite variance innovations and showed that ordinary least squares (OLS)-based ADF statistics have the same distribution as in Chan and Tran (1989, Econometric Theory 5, 354–362) for i.i.d. infinite variance noise. They also proposed an interesting question to extend their results to the case with infinite variance GARCH innovations as considered in Zhang, Sin, and Ling (2015, Stochastic Processes and their Applications 125, 482–512). This paper addresses this question. In particular, the limit distributions of the ADF for random walk models with short-memory linear noise driven by infinite variance GARCH innovations are studied. We show that when the tail index $\alpha <2$ , the limit distributions are completely different from that of CGT and the estimator of the parameters of the lag terms used in the ADF regression is not consistent. This paper provides a broad treatment of unit-root models with linear GARCH noises, which encompasses the commonly entertained unit-root IGARCH model as a special case.

IV AND GMM INFERENCE IN ENDOGENOUS STOCHASTIC UNIT ROOT MODELS

Lieberman and Phillips (2017; LP) introduced a multivariate stochastic unit root (STUR) model, which allows for random, time varying local departures from a unit root (UR) model, where nonlinear least squares (NLLS) may be used for estimation and inference on the STUR coefficient. In a structural version of this model where the driver variables of the STUR coefficient are endogenous, the NLLS estimate of the STUR parameter is inconsistent, as are the corresponding estimates of the associated covariance parameters. This paper develops a nonlinear instrumental variable (NLIV) as well as GMM estimators of the STUR parameter which conveniently addresses endogeneity. We derive the asymptotic distributions of the NLIV and GMM estimators and establish consistency under similar orthogonality and relevance conditions to those used in the linear model. An overidentification test and its asymptotic distribution are also developed. The results enable inference about structural STUR models and a mechanism for testing the local STUR model against a simple UR null, which complements usual UR tests. Simulations reveal that the asymptotic distributions of the NLIV and GMM estimators of the STUR parameter as well as the test for overidentifying restrictions perform well in small samples and that the distribution of the NLIV estimator is heavily leptokurtic with a limit theory which has Cauchy-like tails. Comparisons of STUR coefficient and standard UR coefficient tests show that the one-sided UR test performs poorly against the one-sided STUR coefficient test both as the sample size and departures from the null rise. The results are applied to study the relationships between stock returns and bond spread changes.

A Simple Encompassing Test for the Deterministic and Bilinear Unit Root Models

A new parameters’ encompassing test is proposed for deciding between the deterministic unit root processes with a structural break and the bilinear unit root model without such break. The test consists in testing three sets of hypotheses regarding parameters in a simple regression model. The test uses the t-ratio and F-statistics, of non-trivial distributions under the null hypothesis. The finite sample distributions for the relevant statistics are tabulated and the asymptotic distribution of the F-test is derived. The test has been applied for the daily stock price indices for 66 countries, for the period 1992-2001. The results support the conjecture that the bilinear model dominates the structural break model more often than the other way around. Also, it is likely that in practical applications the bilinear unit root process might be mistaken for the deterministic unit root process with a structural break.Financial support of INTAS project No. 03-51-3714 Nonstationary multivariate and nonlinear econometric models: theory and applications is gratefully acknowledged.

M-ESTIMATION FOR A SPATIAL UNILATERAL AUTOREGRESSIVE MODEL WITH INFINITE VARIANCE INNOVATIONS

We study the limiting behavior of the M-estimators of parameters for a spatial unilateral autoregressive model with independent and identically distributed innovations in the domain of attraction of a stable law with index α ∈ (0, 2]. Both stationary and unit root models and some extensions are considered. It is also shown that self-normalized M-estimators are asymptotically normal. A numerical example and a simulation study are also given.