A New Asymptotic Theory for Heteroskedasticity-Autocorrelation Robust Tests

Nicholas Kiefer () and Timothy Vogelsang

Working Papers from Cornell University, Center for Analytic Economics

Abstract: A new first order asymptotic theory for heteroskedasticity-autocorrelation (HAC) robust tests based on nonparametric covariance matrix estimators is developed. The bandwidth of the covariance matrix estimator is modeled as a fixed proportion of the sample size. This leads to a distribution theory for HAC robust tests that explicitly captures the choice of bandwidth and kernel. This contrasts with the traditional asymptotics (where the bandwidth increases slower than the sample size) where the asymptotic distributions of HAC robust tests do not depend on the bandwidth or kernel. Finite sample simulations show that the new approach is more accurate than the traditional asymptotics. The impact of bandwidth and kernel choice on size and power of t-tests is analyzed. Smaller bandwidths lead to tests with higher power but greater size distortions and large bandwidths lead to tests with lower power but less size distortions. Size distortions across bandwidths increase as the serial correlation in the data becomes stronger. A new data dependent bandwidth is proposed in light of these results. Within a group of popular kernels, it shown that the Bartlett kernel has approximately the highest power and the quadratic spectral (QS) kernel has the lowest power regardless of the bandwidth. However, the Bartlett kernel gives the most size distorted tests whereas the QS kernels give the least size distorted tests. Overall, the results clearly indicate that for bandwidth and kernel choice there is a trade-off between size distortions and power.

Date: 2005-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (209)

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Journal Article: A NEW ASYMPTOTIC THEORY FOR HETEROSKEDASTICITY-AUTOCORRELATION ROBUST TESTS (2005)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ecl:corcae:05-08

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