Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

2001

College/Unit

Regional Research Institute

Document Number

RESEARCH PAPER 2001-2

Department/Program/Center

Regional Research Institute

Abstract

In this paper we focus on two ‘STS’ models suitable for forecasting the index of industrial production. The first model requires that the index be transformed with a first and seasonal difference filters. The second model considers the index in its second difference filter, while seasonality is modeled with a constant and seasonal dummy variables. Tests designed to discriminate empirically between these two models are also conducted. Our results prefer the performance of the second model, particularly when the conventional ML estimation procedure is replaced by the ALS procedure. This process together with appropriate seasonal adjustment advances the possibility of using the suggested index forecasts to help to predict business cycle turning points.

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