Granger Causality and Regime Inference in Markov Switching VAR Models with Bayesian Methods
Journal of Applied Econometrics
Published online on June 27, 2016
Abstract
In this paper, we derive restrictions for Granger noncausality in MS‐VAR models and show under what conditions a variable does not affect the forecast of the hidden Markov process. To assess the noncausality hypotheses, we apply Bayesian inference. The computational tools include a novel block Metropolis–Hastings sampling algorithm for the estimation of the underlying models. We analyze a system of monthly US data on money and income. The results of testing in MS‐VARs contradict those obtained with linear VARs: the money aggregate M1 helps in forecasting industrial production and in predicting the next period's state. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.