Sovereign Risk Indices and Bayesian Theory Averaging

Alex Lenkoski and Fredrik L. Aanes
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Alex Lenkoski: Norwegian Computing Center; Gaustadalleen 23a, Kristen Nygaards Hus, 0373 Oslo, Norway
Fredrik L. Aanes: Norwegian Computing Center; Gaustadalleen 23a, Kristen Nygaards Hus, 0373 Oslo, Norway

Econometrics, 2020, vol. 8, issue 2, 1-24

Abstract: In economic applications, model averaging has found principal use in examining the validity of various theories related to observed heterogeneity in outcomes such as growth, development, and trade. Though often easy to articulate, these theories are imperfectly captured quantitatively. A number of different proxies are often collected for a given theory and the uneven nature of this collection requires care when employing model averaging. Furthermore, if valid, these theories ought to be relevant outside of any single narrowly focused outcome equation. We propose a methodology which treats theories as represented by latent indices, these latent processes controlled by model averaging on the proxy level. To achieve generalizability of the theory index our framework assumes a collection of outcome equations. We accommodate a flexible set of generalized additive models, enabling non-Gaussian outcomes to be included. Furthermore, selection of relevant theories also occurs on the outcome level, allowing for theories to be differentially valid. Our focus is on creating a set of theory-based indices directed at understanding a country’s potential risk of macroeconomic collapse. These Sovereign Risk Indices are calibrated across a set of different “collapse” criteria, including default on sovereign debt, heightened potential for high unemployment or inflation and dramatic swings in foreign exchange values. The goal of this exercise is to render a portable set of country/year theory indices which can find more general use in the research community.

Keywords: Bayesian model averaging; conditional Bayes factors; sovereign debt default; macroeconomic forecasting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B23 C C00 C01 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C8 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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