Measuring Biases in Expectation Formation

Florian Peters () and Simas Kucinskas ()
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Florian Peters: University of Amsterdam
Simas Kucinskas: University of Amsterdam

No 18-058/IV, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute

Abstract: We develop a general framework for measuring biases in expectation formation. The method is based on the insight that biases can be inferred from the response of forecast errors to past news. Empirically, biases are measured by flexibly estimating the impulse response function of forecast errors. The framework does not require precise knowledge of the true data-generating process, and it nests all major existing models of expectations. Monte Carlo simulations show that the method is able to detect biases in empirically relevant settings. We illustrate the methodology using data on inflation forecasts. Our framework can guide future models of expectations.

Keywords: expectation formation; bias; underreaction; overreaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C53 D83 D84 E70 G40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-06-21
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tin:wpaper:20180058

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