International Finance Discussion Papers (IFDP)
August 2016
Estimating Dynamic Macroeconomic Models: How Informative Are the Data?
Daniel O. Beltran and David Draper
Abstract:
Central banks have long used dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models, which are typically estimated using Bayesian techniques, to inform key policy decisions. This paper offers an empirical strategy that quantifies the information content of the data relative to that of the prior distribution. Using an off-the-shelf DSGE model applied to quarterly Euro Area data from 1970:3 to 2009:4, we show how Monte Carlo simulations can reveal parameters for which the model's structure obscures identification. By integrating out components of the likelihood function and conducting a Bayesian sensitivity analysis, we uncover parameters that are weakly informed by the data. The weak identification of some key structural parameters in our comparatively simple model should raise a red flag to researchers trying to draw valid inferences from, and to base policy upon, complex large-scale models featuring many parameters.
Keywords: Bayesian estimation, econometric modeling, Kalman filter, likelihood, local identification, Euro Area, MCMC, policy-relevant parameters, prior-versus-posterior comparison, sensitivity analysis.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17016/IFDP.2016.1175
PDF: Full Paper