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Monitoring the Economy: an Application of Multivariate Real-Time Signal Extraction. http://blog.zhaw.ch/idp/sefblog http://www.idp.zhaw.ch/usri http://www.idp.zhaw.ch/MDFA-XT. Pot-Pourri Recent Experiences. Basic topics Real-time multivariate filtering What it is and what it isn‘t
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Monitoring the Economy: an Application of Multivariate Real-Time Signal Extraction http://blog.zhaw.ch/idp/sefblog http://www.idp.zhaw.ch/usri http://www.idp.zhaw.ch/MDFA-XT
Pot-Pourri Recent Experiences • Basic topics • Real-time multivariate filtering • What it is and what it isn‘t • Customized optimization criteria • Performances (USRI) • Misspecification and the `financial crisis‘
A Selection of Basic Topics USRI MDFA-XT
List of Important Requirements • A priori knowledge: • Data selection, constraints • User requirements: customization • Minimize Revisions • Reliability: effective noise elimination • Timeliness: detecting relevant patterns fast • Revisions/publication strategy: • Reveal true historical performance
Requirements • Consistency • Classical-, growth- and acceleration cycles • Various statistics emphasize a common target/proceeding • Replicability/transparency: • algorithm, no human intervention (subjective judgemental adjustments) • Real-Time Benchmarking: • Real-time comparisons
USRI http://www.idp.zhaw.ch/usri • A priori knowledge: NBER-Design • User requirements: MDFA • Revisions: WYSIWYG-Design • Consistency: Unifying statistical design for all three cycles • Replicability: Excel sheet, USRI-site • Benchmarking: http://blog.zhaw.ch/idp/sefblog
Real-Time Multivariate Filtering What it is What it isn‘t
Pseudo-Multivariate Filtering • Direct vs. Indirect Filtering: • aggregate data prior to univariate filtering or (univariate) filtering prior to aggregation? • Direct: filtering the output of a dynamic factor model • Linear univariate (HP, CF, X-12-ARIMA) • Non-linear univariate: MS-model • Indirect: Seasonal adjustment • It was/is impossible to find unadjusted US-macrodata for USRI • Inconsistency
Objectives • Statistical agency: minimize revisions • Forecasting institute/fund manager/trader: detect turning-points • Neither problem is related directly to one-step ahead mean-square optimization • So why should we rely on maximum likelihood?
1. Revisions Univariate • Minimize a (uniformly) superconsistent estimate of an (uniformly) efficient estimate of the filter mean-square error • (Customized) Efficiency enters explicitly in the Design of the Optimization Criterion
2. Operationalizing Fuzzy `Timeliness‘ • λ>1: emphasize the time delay in the pass-band • λ=1: best level filter
3. Operationalizing Timeliness and Reliability • Stronger damping of high-frequency noise in stop-band • Smaller time delays in pass-band • W(ω) is monotonic (increasing) and λ>1
5. MultivariateTurning-Points • Insufficient space…
Upshot • There are meaningful alternatives to the ubiquitous `one-step ahead‘ paradigm.
Look-Back • 2005/2006: KOF-economic barometer, Dainties • 2007/2008: Forecasting competitions • 2008: Health-care forecasts • 2008: Output-gap US- and Euro-GDP • March 2009: USRI • CIRET-conference Sept 2008 • MDFA Fall 2008 • Oct. 2009: MDFA-XT • 2010: EURI, competition • Collected evidences for systematic outperformance in various application fields
Performances USRI • On-line since March 2009 • http://blog.zhaw.ch/idp/sefblog • CFNAI • OECD-CLI • LEI and CEI • ADS • MS-designs: Chauvet, Piger • Troughs of acceleration-, classical- and growth-cycles as early as December 2008, April 2009 and June 2009 without subsequent revisions
Financial Trading Google for “MDFA-XT” First guess
Model Misspecification OECD-CLI http://blog.zhaw.ch/idp/sefblog/index.php?/archives/35-Did-you-say-a-negative-trend-growth-How-traditional-bandpass-filters-distort-underestimate-and-shift-the-latest-2008-recession!.html
Reconstructed HP-Compatible IPIRemove Variance Effect, Retain mean-Effect
Public Exposition • Welcome (positive) pressure for lazy minds • Public exposition `pusher’ • Careful prototypical setting • Mental presence • Frequent performance check • Discussions with users • Ideas for improvements
Links • http://blog.zhaw.ch/idp/sefblog • http://www.idp.zhaw.ch/usri • http://www.idp.zhaw.ch/MDFA-XT