Skip to main content

Forecasting

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Business Cycles in the Run of History

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Economics ((BRIEFSECONOMICS))

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to the study of the German business cycle. In the tradition of Burns and Mitchell, it considers its classical form, which is represented by fluctuations in the series of the real Gross Domestic Product. After a methodological introduction, the chapter presents the main features of the German business cycle after dating it. Then it develops a probit model in order to predict recessions for the totality of the analyzed period. Finally, the chapter delivers a forecasting in real time for the most recent economic period.

This chapter has received significant contributions from Reynald Majetti.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bismans, F., & Majetti, R. (2013). Forecasting recessions using financial variables. The French case. Empirical Economics, 44, 419–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bry, G., & Boschan, C. (1971). Cyclical analysis of time series: Selected procedures and computer programs. New York: National Bureau of Economic Research, Technical Paper 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauvet, M., & Potter, S. (2005). Forecasting recessions using the yield curve. Journal of Forecasting, 24, 77–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Jong, R. M., & Woutersen, T. M. (2011). Dynamic time series binary choice. Econometric Theory, 27, 673–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dueker, M. J. (1997). Strengthening the case for the yield curve as a predictor of U.S. recessions. Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis Review, 79, 41–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichengreen, B., Watson, M., & Grossman, R. (1985). Bank rate policy under the interwar gold standard: A dynamic probit model. Economic Journal, 95, 725–745.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estrella, A. (1998). A new measure of fit for equations with dichotomous dependent variables. Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, 16, 198–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estrella, A., & Hardouvelis, G. (1991). The term structure as a predictor of real economic activity. Journal of Finance, 46, 555–576.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estrella, A., & Mishkin, F. (1997). The predictive power of term structure on interest rates in Europe and United-States: Implication for the European Central Bank. European Economic Review, 41, 1375–1401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estrella, A., & Mishkin, F. (1998). Predicting U.S. recessions: Financial variables as leading indicators. Review of Economics and Statistics, 80, 45–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harding, D., & Pagan, A. (2002). Dissecting the cycle: a methodological investigation. Journal of Monetary Economics, 49, 365–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kauppi, H., & Saikkonen, P. (2008). Predicting U.S. recessions with dynamic binary response models. Review of Economics and Statistics, 90, 777–791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcellino, M., Stock, J. H., & Watson, M. W. (2006). A comparison of direct and iterated multistep AR methods for forecasting macroeconomic series. Journal of Econometrics, 135, 499–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moneta, F. (2005). Does the yield spread predict recessions in the Euro Area? International Finance, 8, 263–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newey, W. K., & West, K. D. (1987). A simple, positive semi-definite, heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation consistent covariance matrix. Econometrica, 55, 703–708.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng, E. C. Y. (2012). Forecasting US recessions with various risk factors and dynamic models. Journal of Macroeconomics, 34, 112–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyholm, K. (2007). A new approach to predicting recessions. Economic Notes, 36, 27–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, J. V., & Maurer, S. (2008). Signal or noise? implications of the term premium for recession forecasting. Federal Reserve Bank of New York Economic Policy Review, 12, 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Startz, R. (2008). Binomial autoregressive moving average models with an application to U.S. recessions. Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, 26, 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheelock, D. C., & Wohar, M. E. (2009). Can the term spread predict output growth and recessions? a survey of the literature. Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis Review, 91, 419–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeger, S. L., & Qaqish, B. (1988). Markov regression models for time series: A quasi-likelihood approach. Biometrics, 44, 1019–1031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thierry Aimar .

Annex 1: The Sequential Reduction Procedure

Annex 1: The Sequential Reduction Procedure

Variables

Models

(1)

(2)

(3)

Constant

−0.437

(0.425)

−0.384

(0.425)

−0.383

(0.424)

R t−1

1.662***

(0.320)

1.783***

(0.318)

1.913***

(0.311)

M1 t3

−23.315**

(10.994)

−26.053**

(0.264)

−30.823***

(10.968)

SPREAD t−4

−0.170*

(0.090)

−0.181**

(0.092)

 

SPI t−1

−1.410

(1.156)

  

ln L

−43.731

−44.469

−46.187

Pseudo R 2 (%)

45.545

44.637

42.527

Correct previsions (%)

89

89

89

Correct recessions (%)

65.6

62.5

68.75

RMSE

0.2807

0.2854

0.2922

BIC

112.961

109.337

107.673

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Aimar, T., Bismans, F., Diebolt, C. (2016). Forecasting. In: Business Cycles in the Run of History. SpringerBriefs in Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24325-2_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics