Frequency domain generalized empirical likelihood method

This paper is concerned with a version of empirical likelihood method for spectral restrictions, which handles stationary time series data via the frequency domain approach. The asymptotic properties of frequency domain generalized empirical likelihood are studied for either strictly stationary processes with vanishing cumulant spectral density function of order 4 or linear processes generated by iid innovations with possibly non‐zero fourth order cumulant. Several statistics for testing parametric restrictions, over‐identified spectral restrictions, and additional spectral restrictions are shown to have the limiting chi‐squared distributions. Some numerical results are presented to investigate the finite sample performance of the proposed procedures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A light‐tailed conditionally heteroscedastic model with applications to river flows

Abstract. A conditionally heteroscedastic model, different from the more commonly used autoregressive moving average–generalized autoregressive conditionally heteroscedastic (ARMA‐GARCH) processes, is established and analysed here. The time‐dependent variance of innovations passing through an ARMA filter is conditioned on the lagged values of the generated process, rather than on the lagged innovations, and is defined to be asymptotically proportional to those past values. Designed this way, the model incorporates certain feedback from the modelled process, the innovation is no longer of GARCH type, and all moments of the modelled process are finite provided the same is true for the generating noise. The article gives the condition of stationarity, and proves consistency and asymptotic normality of the Gaussian quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator of the variance parameters, even though the estimated parameters of the linear filter contain an error. An analysis of six diurnal water discharge series observed along Rivers Danube and Tisza in Hungary demonstrates the usefulness of such a model. The effect of lagged river discharge turns out to be highly significant on the variance of innovations, and nonparametric estimation approves its approximate linearity. Simulations from the new model preserve well the probability distribution, the high quantiles, the tail behaviour and the high‐level clustering of the original series, further justifying model choice.     

Poisson QMLE of Count Time Series Models

Regularity conditions are given for the consistency of the Poisson quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator of the conditional mean parameter of a count time series model. The asymptotic distribution of the estimator is studied when the parameter belongs to the interior of the parameter space and when it lies at the boundary. Tests for the significance of the parameters and for constant conditional mean are deduced. Applications to specific integer‐valued autoregressive (INAR) and integer‐valued generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (INGARCH) models are considered. Numerical illustrations, Monte Carlo simulations and real data series are provided.     

Bootstrap Approximation to Prediction MSE for State–Space Models with Estimated Parameters

Abstract. We propose simple parametric and nonparametric bootstrap methods for estimating the prediction mean square error (PMSE) of state vector predictors that use estimated model parameters. As is well known, substituting the model parameters by their estimates in the theoretical PMSE expression that assumes known parameter values results in underestimation of the true PMSE. The parametric method consists of generating parametrically a large number of bootstrap series from the model fitted to the original series, re‐estimating the model parameters for each series using the same method as used for the original series and then estimating the separate components of the PMSE. The nonparametric method generates the series by bootstrapping the standardized innovations estimated for the original series. The bootstrap methods are compared with other methods considered in the literature in a simulation study that also examines the robustness of the various methods to non‐normality of the model error terms. Application of the bootstrap method to a model fitted to employment ratios in the USA that contains 18 unknown parameters, estimated by a three‐step procedure yields unbiased PMSE estimators.     

A PARAMETER‐DRIVEN LOGIT REGRESSION MODEL FOR BINARY TIME SERIES

We consider a parameter‐driven regression model for binary time series, where serial dependence is introduced by an autocorrelated latent process incorporated into the logit link function. Unlike in the case of parameter‐driven Poisson log‐linear or negative binomial logit regression model studied in the literature for time series of counts, generalized linear model (GLM) estimation of the regression coefficient vector, which suppresses the latent process and maximizes the corresponding pseudo‐likelihood, cannot produce a consistent estimator. As a remedial measure, in this article, we propose a modified GLM estimation procedure and show that the resulting estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal. Moreover, we develop two procedures for estimating the asymptotic covariance matrix of the estimator and establish their consistency property. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the finite‐sample performance of the proposed procedures. An empirical example is also presented.     

Consistent Estimation of the Value at Risk When the Error Distribution of the Volatility Model is Misspecified

A two‐step approach for conditional value at risk estimation is considered. First, a generalized quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator is employed to estimate the volatility parameter, then the empirical quantile of the residuals serves to estimate the theoretical quantile of the innovations. When the instrumental density h of the generalized quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator is not the Gaussian density, both the estimations of the volatility and of the quantile are generally asymptotically biased. However, the two errors counterbalance and lead to a consistent estimator of the value at risk. We obtain the asymptotic behavior of this estimator and show how to choose optimally h.     

Central limit theorems for nonparametric estimators with real‐time random variables

In this article, asymptotic theories for nonparametric methods are studied when they are applied to real‐time data. In particular, we derive central limit theorems for nonparametric density and regression estimators. For this we formally introduce a sequence of real‐time random variables indexed by a parameter related to fine gridding of time domain (or fine discretization). Our results show that the impact of fine gridding is greater in the density estimation case in the sense that strong dependence due to fine gridding severely affects the major strength of nonparametric density estimator (or its data‐adaptive property). In addition, we discuss some issues about nonparametric regression model with fine gridding of time domain.     

Subsampling inference for the autocovariances and autocorrelations of long‐memory heavy‐ tailed linear time series

We provide a self‐normalization for the sample autocovariances and autocorrelations of a linear, long‐memory time series with innovations that have either finite fourth moment or are heavy‐tailed with tail index 2 < α < 4. In the asymptotic distribution of the sample autocovariance there are three rates of convergence that depend on the interplay between the memory parameter d and α, and which consequently lead to three different limit distributions; for the sample autocorrelation the limit distribution only depends on d. We introduce a self‐normalized sample autocovariance statistic, which is computable without knowledge of α or d (or their relationship), and which converges to a non‐degenerate distribution. We also treat self‐normalization of the autocorrelations. The sampling distributions can then be approximated non‐parametrically by subsampling, as the corresponding asymptotic distribution is still parameter‐dependent. The subsampling‐based confidence intervals for the process autocovariances and autocorrelations are shown to have satisfactory empirical coverage rates in a simulation study. The impact of subsampling block size on the coverage is assessed. The methodology is further applied to the log‐squared returns of Merck stock.     

Maximum Likelihood Estimation for a First‐Order Bifurcating Autoregressive Process with Exponential Errors

Abstract. Exact and asymptotic distributions of the maximum likelihood estimator of the autoregressive parameter in a first‐order bifurcating autoregressive process with exponential innovations are derived. The limit distributions for the stationary, critical and explosive cases are unified via a single pivot using a random normalization. The pivot is shown to be asymptotically exponential for all values of the autoregressive parameter.     

On geometric ergodicity of CHARME models

In this article we consider a CHARME model, a class of generalized mixture of nonlinear nonparametric AR‐ARCH time series. To provide sets of conditions under which such processes are geometrically ergodic and, therefore, satisfy some mixing conditions, we apply the theory of Markov chains to derive asymptotic stability of this model. These results form the basis for deriving an asymptotic theory for nonparametric estimation. As an illustration, neural network sieve estimates for the autoregressive and volatility functions are considered, and consistency of the parameter estimates is obtained.     

Multivariate Portmanteau Test For Autoregressive Models with Uncorrelated but Nonindependent Errors

Abstract. We study the asymptotic behaviour of the least squares estimator, of the residual autocorrelations and of the Ljung–Box (or Box–Pierce) portmanteau test statistic for multiple autoregressive time series models with nonindependent innovations. Under mild assumptions, it is shown that the asymptotic distribution of the portmanteau tests is that of a weighted sum of independent chi‐squared random variables. When the innovations exhibit conditional heteroscedasticity or other forms of dependence, this asymptotic distribution can be quite different from that of models with independent and identically distributed innovations. Consequently, the usual chi‐squared distribution does not provide an adequate approximation to the distribution of the Box–Pierce goodness‐of‐fit portmanteau test in the presence of nonindependent innovations. Hence we propose a method to adjust the critical values of the portmanteau tests. Monte carlo experiments illustrate the finite sample performance of the modified portmanteau test.     

Prediction Interval for Autoregressive Time Series via Oracally Efficient Estimation of Multi‐Step‐Ahead Innovation Distribution Function

A kernel distribution estimator (KDE) is proposed for multi‐step‐ahead prediction error distribution of autoregressive time series, based on prediction residuals. Under general assumptions, the KDE is proved to be oracally efficient as the infeasible KDE and the empirical cumulative distribution function (cdf) based on unobserved prediction errors. Quantile estimator is obtained from the oracally efficient KDE, and prediction interval for multi‐step‐ahead future observation is constructed using the estimated quantiles and shown to achieve asymptotically the nominal confidence levels. Simulation examples corroborate the asymptotic theory.     

ARMA MODELLING WITH NON-GAUSSIAN INNOVATIONS

Abstract. The problem of modelling time series driven by non-Gaussian innovations is considered. The asymptotic normality of the maximum likelihood estimator is established under some general conditions. The distribution of the residual autocorrelations is also obtained. This gives rise to a potentially useful goodness-of-fit statistic. Applications of the results to two important cases are discussed. Two real examples are considered.     

A FIXED‐ b TEST FOR A BREAK IN LEVEL AT AN UNKNOWN TIME UNDER FRACTIONAL INTEGRATION

In this paper, we propose a test for a break in the level of a fractionally integrated process when the timing of the putative break is not known. This testing problem has received considerable attention in the literature in the case where the time series is weakly autocorrelated. Less attention has been given to the case where the underlying time series is allowed to be fractionally integrated. Here, valid testing can only be performed if the limiting null distribution of the level break test statistic is well defined for all values of the fractional integration exponent considered. However, conventional sup‐Wald type tests diverge when the data are strongly autocorrelated. We show that a sup‐Wald statistic, which is standardized using a non‐parametric kernel‐based long‐run variance estimator, does possess a well‐defined limit distribution, depending only on the fractional integration parameter, provided the recently developed fixed‐b asymptotic framework is applied. We give the appropriate asymptotic critical values for this sup‐Wald statistic and show that it has good finite sample size and power properties.     

Unit root testing with slowly varying trends

A unit root test is proposed for time series with a general nonlinear deterministic trend component. It is shown that asymptotically the pooled OLS estimator of overlapping blocks filters out any trend component that satisfies some Lipschitz condition. Under both fixed‐b and small‐b block asymptotics, the limiting distribution of the t‐statistic for the unit root hypothesis is derived. Nuisance parameter corrections provide heteroskedasticity‐robust tests, and serial correlation is accounted for by pre‐whitening. A Monte Carlo study that considers slowly varying trends yields both good size and improved power results for the proposed tests when compared to conventional unit root tests.     

THE ESTIMATION AND APPLICATION OF LONG MEMORY TIME SERIES MODELS

Abstract. The definitions of fractional Gaussian noise and integrated (or fractionally differenced) series are generalized, and it is shown that the two concepts are equivalent. A new estimator of the long memory parameter in these models is proposed, based on the simple linear regression of the log periodogram on a deterministic regressor. The estimator is the ordinary least squares estimator of the slope parameter in this regression, formed using only the lowest frequency ordinates of the log periodogram. Its asymptotic distribution is derived, from which it is evident that the conventional interpretation of these least squares statistics is justified in large samples. Using synthetic data the asymptotic theory proves to be reliable in samples of 50 observations or more. For three postwar monthly economic time series, the estimated integrated series model provides more reliable out-of-sample forecasts than do more conventional procedures.     

Parameter Estimation for Periodically Stationary Time Series

Abstract. The innovations algorithm can be used to obtain parameter estimates for periodically stationary time series models. In this paper, we compute the asymptotic distribution for these estimates in the case, where the innovations have a finite fourth moment. These asymptotic results are useful to determine which model parameters are significant. In the process, we also develop asymptotics for the Yule–Walker estimates.     

Asymptotics for the Conditional‐Sum‐of‐Squares Estimator in Multivariate Fractional Time‐Series Models

This article proves consistency and asymptotic normality for the conditional‐sum‐of‐squares estimator, which is equivalent to the conditional maximum likelihood estimator, in multivariate fractional time‐series models. The model is parametric and quite general and, in particular, encompasses the multivariate non‐cointegrated fractional autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. The novelty of the consistency result, in particular, is that it applies to a multivariate model and to an arbitrarily large set of admissible parameter values, for which the objective function does not converge uniformly in probability, thus making the proof much more challenging than usual. The neighbourhood around the critical point where uniform convergence fails is handled using a truncation argument.     

Robust estimators under semi‐parametric partly linear autoregression: Asymptotic behaviour and bandwidth selection

Abstract. In this article, under a semi‐parametric partly linear autoregression model, a family of robust estimators for the autoregression parameter and the autoregression function is studied. The proposed estimators are based on a three‐step procedure, in which robust regression estimators and robust smoothing techniques are combined. Asymptotic results on the autoregression estimators are derived. Besides combining robust procedures with M‐smoothers, predicted values for the series and detection residuals, which allow to detect anomalous data, are introduced. Robust cross‐validation methods to select the smoothing parameter are presented as an alternative to the classical ones, which are sensitive to outlying observations. A Monte Carlo study is conducted to compare the performance of the proposed criteria. Finally, the asymptotic distribution of the autoregression parameter estimator is stated uniformly over the smoothing parameter.     

Asymptotic self‐similarity and wavelet estimation for long‐range dependent fractional autoregressive integrated moving average time series with stable innovations

Abstract. Methods for parameter estimation in the presence of long‐range dependence and heavy tails are scarce. Fractional autoregressive integrated moving average (FARIMA) time series for positive values of the fractional differencing exponent d can be used to model long‐range dependence in the case of heavy‐tailed distributions. In this paper, we focus on the estimation of the Hurst parameter H = d + 1/α for long‐range dependent FARIMA time series with symmetric α‐stable (1 < α < 2) innovations. We establish the consistency and the asymptotic normality of two types of wavelet estimators of the parameter H. We do so by exploiting the fact that the integrated series is asymptotically self‐similar with parameter H. When the parameter α is known, we also obtain consistent and asymptotically normal estimators for the fractional differencing exponent d = H ? 1/α. Our results hold for a larger class of causal linear processes with stable symmetric innovations. As the wavelet‐based estimation method used here is semi‐parametric, it allows for a more robust treatment of long‐range dependent data than parametric methods.