Common drifting volatility in large Bayesian VARs

Andrea Carriero, Todd Clark and Massimiliano Marcellino

No 1206, Working Papers (Old Series) from Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Abstract: The estimation of large vector autoregressions with stochastic volatility using standard methods is computationally very demanding. In this paper we propose to model conditional volatilities as driven by a single common unobserved factor.> This is justified by the observation that the pattern of estimated volatilities in empirical analyses is often very similar across variables. Using a combination of a standard natural conjugate prior for the VAR coefficients and an independent prior on a common stochastic volatility factor, we derive the posterior densities for the parameters of the resulting BVAR with common stochastic volatility (BVAR-CSV). Under the chosen prior, the conditional posterior of the VAR coefficients features a Kroneker structure that allows for fast estimation, even in a large system. Using US and UK data, we show that, compared to a model with constant volatilities, our proposed common volatility model significantly improves model fit and forecast accuracy. The gains are comparable to or as great as the gains achieved with a conventional stochastic volatility specification that allows independent volatility processes for each variable. But our common volatility specification greatly speeds computations.

Keywords: Economic forecasting; Bayesian statistical decision theory; Econometric models; Estimation theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ets and nep-for
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Common Drifting Volatility in Large Bayesian VARs (2016)
Working Paper: Common Drifting Volatility in Large Bayesian VARs (2012)
Working Paper: Common Drifting Volatility in Large Bayesian VARs (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fip:fedcwp:1206

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DOI: 10.26509/frbc-wp-201206

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