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Agnostic Structural Disturbances (ASDs): Detecting and Reducing Misspecification in Empirical Macroeconomic Models

Author

Listed:
  • Wouter J. Den Haan

    (Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM)
    London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE))

  • Thomas Drechsel

    (Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM)
    London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE))

Abstract
Exogenous random structural disturbances are the main driving force behind fluctuations in most business cycle models and typically a wide variety is used. This paper documents that a minor misspecification regarding structural disturbances can lead to large distortions for parameter estimates and implied model properties, such as impulse response functions with a wrong shape and even an incorrect sign. We propose a novel concept, namely an agnostic structural disturbance (ASD), that can be used to both detect and correct for misspecification of the structural disturbances. In contrast to regular disturbances and wedges, ASDs do not impose additional restrictions on policy functions. When applied to the Smets-Wouters (SW) model, we find that its risk-premium disturbance and its investment-specific productivity disturbance are rejected in favor of our ASDs. While agnostic in nature, studying the estimated associated coefficients and the impulse response functions of these ASDs allows us to interpret them economically as a risk-premium/preference and an investment-specific productivity type disturbance as in SW, but our results indicate that they enter the model quite differently than the original SW disturbances. Our procedure also selects an additional wage mark-up disturbance that is associated with increased capital efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Wouter J. Den Haan & Thomas Drechsel, 2018. "Agnostic Structural Disturbances (ASDs): Detecting and Reducing Misspecification in Empirical Macroeconomic Models," Discussion Papers 1826, Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM).
    • Handle: RePEc:cfm:wpaper:1826
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    6. Wickens, Michael R. & Pagan, Adrian, 2019. "Checking if the Straitjacket Fits," CEPR Discussion Papers 14140, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Cardani, Roberta & Hohberger, Stefan & Pfeiffer, Philipp & Vogel, Lukas, 2022. "Domestic versus foreign drivers of trade (im)balances: How robust is evidence from estimated DSGE models?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    8. Fabio Canova & Christian Matthes, 2021. "Dealing with misspecification in structural macroeconometric models," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 12(2), pages 313-350, May.
    9. Giovannini, Massimo & Pfeiffer, Philipp & Ratto, Marco, 2021. "Efficient and robust inference of models with occasionally binding constraints," Working Papers 2021-03, Joint Research Centre, European Commission.
    10. Thomas Drechsel, 2023. "Earnings-Based Borrowing Constraints and Macroeconomic Fluctuations," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(2), pages 1-34, April.
    11. Wouter J. Den Haan & Tiancheng Sun, 2024. "The Role of Sell Frictions for Inventories and Business Cycles," Discussion Papers 2426, Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM).
    12. Nikolaos Kokonas & Paulo Santos Monteiro, 2020. "The Ins and Outs of Unemployment in General Equilibrium," Discussion Papers 2014, Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM).
    13. José R. Maria & Paulo Júlio, 2021. "Lessons from a finitely-lived agents structural model," Economic Bulletin and Financial Stability Report Articles and Banco de Portugal Economic Studies, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    14. Calo, Silvia & Gregori, Wildmer Daniel & Petracco Giudici, Marco & Rancan, Michela, 2021. "Has the Comprehensive Assessment made the European financial system more resilient?," Working Papers 2021-08, Joint Research Centre, European Commission.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    DSGE; Full-information model estimation. sturctural disturbances;

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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