In this paper, we propose a nonparametric identification and estimation procedure for an ltd diffusion process based on discrete sampling observations. The nonparametric kernel estimator for the diffusion function developed in this paper deals with general ltd diffusion processes and avoids any functional form specification for either the drift function or the diffusion function. It is shown that under certain regularity conditions the nonparametric diffusion function estimator is pointwise consistent and asymptotically follows a normal mixture distribution. Under stronger conditions, a consistent nonparametric estimator of the drift function is also derived based on the diffusion function estimator and the marginal density of the process. An application of the nonparametric technique to a short-term interest rate model involving Canadian daily 3-month treasury bill rates is also undertaken. The estimation results provide evidence for rejecting the common parametric or semiparametric specifications for both the drift and diffusion functions.

The aim of this paper is to characterize and analyze long-run comovements among diffusion processes. Broadly speaking, if X = (X1,,X2,;t ≥ 0) is a nonergodic diffusion in R2, but there exists a linear combination, say, γ′X, that is instead ergodic in R, then we say there exists a linear stochastic comovement between the components of X. Linear diffusions exhibiting stochastic comovements admit an error correction representation. Estimation of γ and hypothesis testing, under different sampling schemes, are considered.

This paper considers estimation of multiplicative, unobserved components panel data models without imposing a strict exogeneity assumption on the conditioning variables. The method of moments estimators proposed have significant robustness properties. They require only a conditional mean assumption and apply to models with lagged dependent variables and to finite distributed lag models with arbitrary feedback from the explained to future values of the explanatory variables. The model is particularly suited to nonnegative explained variables, including count variables, continuously distributed nonnegative outcomes, and even binary variables. The general model can also be applied to certain nonlinear Euler equations.

This study examines several important practical issues concerning nonparametric estimation of the innovation variance for the Phillips-Perron (PP) test. A Monte Carlo study is conducted to evaluate the potential effects of kernel choice, databased bandwidth selection, and prewhitening on the power property of the PP test in finite samples. The Monte Carlo results are instructive. Although the kernel choice is found to make little difference, data-based bandwidth selection and prewhitening can lead to power gains for the PP test. The combined use of both the Andrews (1991, Ecpnometrica 59, 817–858) data-based bandwidth selection procedure and the Andrews and Monahan (1992, Econometrica 60, 953–966) prewhitening procedure performs particularly well. With the combined use of these two procedures, the PPtest displays relatively good power in comparison with the augmented Dickey-Fuller test.

This paper considers vector-valued nonstationary time series models, in particular, autoregressive models, whose nonstationarity is driven by a few nonstationary (induced by “unit roots”) trends, in such a way that some of the linear combinations of the components of the vector model will be stationary. Models of this form are called cointegrated models. These stationary linear combinations are called cointegrating relationships. Asymptotic inference problems associated with the parameters of the cointegrating relationships when the remaining parameters are treated as unknown nuisance parameters are considered. Similarly, inference problems associated with the unit roots are considered. All possible unit roots, including complex ones, together with their possible multiplicities, are allowed. The framework under which the asymptotic inference problems are dealt with is the one described in LeCam (1986, Asymptotic Methods in Statistical Decision Theory) and LeCam and Yang (1990, Asymptotics in Statistics: Some Basic Concepts), though it will be seen that the usual normal or mixed normal situations do not apply in the present context.