Standard errors for the Laspeyres index number with autocorrelated error models

This paper deals with the stochastic approach to Laspeyres price index number with the assumption of serial correlation of orders 1 and 2. The first round of estimation provides the estimates of Laspeyres index numbers in the presence of serial correlation assuming that variance is independent of time. In the second round of estimation, we use the weighted least square approach to derive the standard errors of Laspeyres index number assuming variance is dependent on time. These standard errors are linked to the variability of relative prices and are simple to evaluate. It shows that the larger index numbers are expected to estimate with less degree of precision. The results are illustrated with price data of Pakistan.     

消费者偏好与真实生活成本

本文在消费者偏好结构可变的假设下,探讨了1998-2012年我国消费者真实生活成本。研究表明忽视消费者偏好结构的变化通常会高估消费者真实生活成本水平和增长幅度,而这种替代偏误的程度取决于基期的选择。基于这种研究发现,政府有关部门在使用消费者物价指数制定相关政策（尤其是福利政策）时,本文研究的非参数型真实生活成本指数 可能比一般的拉氏物价指数更为合适。因此,建议统计部门在使用拉氏价格指数统计消费者物价水平的同时,应该定期编制和公布 指数。     

The Sensitivity of the True Cost of Living to Price-Induced and Income-Induced Changes in Aggregate Consumers' Tastes

This article examines the sensitivity of the cost of living to some aspects of price changes and income changes that cannot be detected by Laspeyres indexes like the CPI-U or CPI-W. Effects of price-induced and income-induced changes in consumers tastes on the cost of living in the United States from 1947 to 1981 are estimated and found to be generally substantial.     

Theoretical and practical issues in purchasing power parities illustrated with reference to the 1993 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development data

This paper deals first with some theoretical issues in purchasing power parities, including the definition of a generalized class of additive indices, which includes the standard Geary–Khamis and Iklé indices as special cases, and the definition of indicators of price and quantity structure which are independent of the particular units in which quantities are originally expressed. The paper then provides a comparative analysis of the results of applying these techniques to the 1993 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development data and relates the results to underlying features of the price and expenditure data.     

Approximation of the Fisher price index by using Lowe,Young, and AG Mean indices

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) approximates changes in the costs of household consumption assuming the constant utility (COLI, Cost of Living Index). In practice, the Laspeyres price index is used to measure the CPI despite the fact that many economists consider the superlative indices to be the best approximation of COLI. The Fisher index is one of the superlative indices and additionally it satisfies most of tests from the axiomatic price index theory. Nevertheless, the Fisher price index makes use of current-period expenditure data and its usefulness in CPI measurement is limited. In this article, we verify the utility of using the Lowe, Young, and AG Mean indices for Fisher price index approximation. We confirm this utility in a simulation study and we provide an empirical proof.     

关于物价综合指数性质的探析

通过对拉氏和帕氏物价指数的讨论，明确了物价综合指数之间的相互关系和物价综合指数的数学性质，找到了物价综合指数的变化特点。在保持原有指数特性的前提下，提出了新的综合指数改进方案，并对其进行了检验。检验表明，新的综合指数方案计算简便，能够准确地反映物量和价格的变化，并且误差较小。     

Proposition of a General Formula for Price Indices

In this article, we propose a general formula for aggregative price indices that satisfies most postulates coming from the axiomatic price index theory. We show that the ideal Fisher index, Laspeyres and Paasche formulas, and a lot of other indices are particular cases of the proposed formula. Moreover, using the general formula we can easily define new indices, that would satisfy given postulates. We also present an interesting result for the proposed formula.     

A Class of Multiplicative Estimators of Laspeyres Price Indexes

Publication of indexes measuring changes in prices of retail, wholesale, export, and import items is an important part of many governmental statistics programs. One form of price index that is often used is the fixed-base Laspeyres, in which a fixed market basket of goods is priced over time. This article introduces a new class of multiplicative estimators of Laspeyres indexes. The optimum within the class is derived for long-term price change and compared with two other members of the class when used for estimating both long-term and short-term change. Theoretical properties are derived under a model in which long-term relative price changes for individual items have common within-stratum means and are correlated over time. Theory for long-term and short-term change estimators is tested in a simulation study in which a large number of stratified probability samples is selected from a population extracted from items priced for the U.S. consumer price index.     

Construction of confidence intervals for the Laspeyres price index

In the paper, we present and discuss several methods of the construction of confidence intervals for the Laspeyres price index. We assume that prices of commodities are normally distributed and we consider both independent and dependent prices. Using Monte Carlo simulation, the paper compares the confidence interval computed from a simple econometric model with those obtained based on the Laspeyres density function. Our conclusions can be generalized to other price index formulas.     

Estimation of Laspeyres Price Indexes Using the Prediction Approach for Finite Population Sampling

Estimators of chain and fixed-base Laspeyres price indexes are studied using the prediction approach to finite population sampling. The estimators include some that are based on those used in several U.S. government index programs and others derived from prediction models. Biases and variances of the estimators are studied for a case in which the reference period index weights are unknown for nonsample items. Under a model for a one-period price change in which items have common within-stratum means, unbiased estimators can be constructed, but under a more general regression model, special sample balance conditions are needed for unbiasedness of those estimators. The theory for the estimators of fixed-base indexes is illustrated in an empirical study using a population of items priced for the U.S. Consumer Price Index.     

房价波动对我国城镇居民消费的影响研究

 本文将房价、住房面积、消费习惯及借贷约束等变量引入消费者最优选择模型中,构建出在综合考虑各个因素的条件下,能够检验房价波动对居民消费影响的动态面板模型,运用动态系统广义矩阵方法,采用我国29个省市的年度数据进行多角度的实证分析。研究显示:(1)我国城镇居民受到较强消费习惯与收入敏感性的影响;(2)房价波动对居住消费的影响为负,对非居住消费的影响为正,且均存在明显的非对称性;(3)中东西地区房价波动对居住消费的影响均为负,但影响系数差异较大;对非居住消费的影响差异就更为明显,东西部地区影响为正,中部地区为负。分析也表明,我国城镇高房价收入比、地区经济发展不平衡及居民收入差距的不断拉大是导致实证结果的主要原因。     

Bootstrapping a hedonic price index: experience from used cars data

Every hedonic price index is an estimate of an unknown economic parameter. It depends, in practice, on one or more random samples of prices and characteristics of a certain good. Bootstrap resampling methods provide a tool for quantifying sampling errors. Following some general reflections on hedonic elementary price indices, this paper proposes a case-based, a model-based, and a wild bootstrap approach for estimating confidence intervals for hedonic price indices. Empirical results are obtained for a data set on used cars in Switzerland. A simple and an enhanced adaptive semi-logarithmic model are fit to monthly samples, and bootstrap confidence intervals are estimated for Jevons-type hedonic elementary price indices.     

Reliability of indices of industrial production in developing countries:the case of Zambia, 1980–89

This paper describes problems met in the calculation of the new index of industrial production in Zambia. It discusses deficiencies of the old index and measures taken to remedy the situation. Comparison of the indices shows that the old index was very unreliable. The average error for most indices was as large, or larger, than their average year-to-year change. Thus it was almost impossible to distinguish real movements in the old index from error variations. Similar problems were found in other developing countries. It is likely that many indices currently in use in these countries are also unreliable.This paper describes problems met in the calculation of the new index of industrial production in Zambia. It discusses deficiencies of the old index and measures taken to remedy the situation. Comparison of the indices shows that the old index was very unreliable. The average error for most indices was as large, or larger, than their average year-to-year change. Thus it was almost impossible to distinguish real movements in the old index from error variations. Similar problems were found in other developing countries. It is likely that many indices currently in use in these countries are also unreliable.This paper describes problems met in the calculation of the new index of industrial production in Zambia. It discusses deficiencies of the old index and measures taken to remedy the situation. Comparison of the indices shows that the old index was very unreliable. The average error for most indices was as large, or larger, than their average year-to-year change. Thus it was almost impossible to distinguish real movements in the old index from error variations. Similar problems were found in other developing countries. It is likely that many indices currently in use in these countries are also unreliable.This paper describes problems met in the calculation of the new index of industrial production in Zambia. It discusses deficiencies of the old index and measures taken to remedy the situation. Comparison of the indices shows that the old index was very unreliable. The average error for most indices was as large, or larger, than their average year-to-year change. Thus it was almost impossible to distinguish real movements in the old index from error variations. Similar problems were found in other developing countries. It is likely that many indices currently in use in these countries are also unreliable.     

国际油价冲击对中国宏观经济的影响

 长期以来,伴随油价冲击的往往是国际经济和社会的剧烈动荡,这使得油价冲击对宏观经济的影响成为日益重要的研究课题。本文首次运用结构向量自回归（SVAR）模型,研究了国际油价波动对我国宏观经济所产生的动态冲击效应。实证研究发现：国际油价上涨确实对产出有逆向影响,但冲击后的产出变化在回归到零值后会越过零值继续上升;国际油价上涨对CPI有正向影响,但影响不显著,且CPI并不会在当期就对油价冲击做出响应,而是有一个相当的滞后期,然后在达到一个高点之后慢慢下降,逐渐回归到0值,但在达到0值后还会继续向下;国际油价上涨对一年期存款利率基本没有影响。针对造成这种实证结果的原因,本文最后给出了相应的解释和政策建议。     

The True Cost-of-Living Index With Changing Preferences

This article investigates the theoretical and empirical properties of a true cost-of-living index under conditions of changing preferences. A family of true indexes is defined based on the notion of the current utility function. A particular index, based on the previous period's utility level, is then defined. Given this definition, a true cost-of-living index is computed based on a quadratic expenditure system estimated with quarterly data from 1960–1981. For empirical purposes, changes in preferences are represented by the linear habit formation hypothesis. This index is then compared with Paasche and Laspeyres indexes. The true cost-of-living index grows somewhat faster than either the Paasche or Laspeyres index. It also displays considerably more variability.     

猪肉价格上涨与消费福利损失的实证研究——以江西省瑞昌市低收入者为例

2007年5月以来的猪肉价格上涨给低收入者带来了较大的福利损失,为确保低收入者的基本生活水平不受影响,需要对其进行适当财政补贴。利用经验数据拟合了低收入者的效用函数,结合2007年前三季度与2006年前三季度的猪肉价格变动,运用等价性变化、补偿性变化以及消费者剩余变化,衡量了猪肉价格上涨造成的低收入者福利损失,并为政府确定对低收入者的财政补贴金额提供了切实可行的参考标准。     

国际资本约束与顺周期财政政策

本文首次建立理论模型证明了国际资本约束是发展中国家顺周期财政政策形成的重要动因。同时基于125个发展中国家1960-2016年的面板数据，得到了与理论预期一致且稳健的经验证据：发展中国家呈现出顺周期财政政策的典型事实。在充分考虑内生性问题，引入加权的贸易伙伴实际GDP增长率和加权的美国国债实际收益率作为有效工具变量后，这一结论仍然成立；主权信用评级每下调1个级别，顺周期财政政策倾向将会增加5.83%。这种国际资本市场的劣势地位所引致的国际资本强约束，是发展中国家采用顺周期财政政策的关键原因。本文的研究在经验上丰富了关于发展中国家顺周期财政政策成因的讨论，为深化发展中国家之间的国际合作与互助提供了政策启示。     

中国居民消费价格指数间的关系与选择

居民消费价格是宏观经济监测的重要内容之一,其指数间的关系与选择具有重要意义。通过与国外发达国家的比较,从我国目前价格指数编制和选择使用的现状及存在的问题出发,研究环比、同比和定基价格指数以及环比“折年率”之间的相互转化情况和它们各自在经济监测中的特征。重点研究了基于X-12-ARIMA模型的环比价格指数的季节调整和同比价格指数相对环比价格指数对物价监测的时滞性。同时验证了研究中同比向定基指数转化的合理性。由此对我国居民价格实时监测的指数选择提供政策建议,也为我国价格指数的编制提出建议。     

国际油价不确定性与中国经济增长——基于GARCH-in-Mean SVAR模型的实证研究

通过建立双变量的GARCH-in-Mean SVAR模型,将代表国际油价不确定性的变量——油价变动率的条件标准差,引入结构向量自回归模型(SVAR),来检验国际油价不确定性对中国经济增长的影响。研究表明,国际油价的不确定性尚未对中国经济增长造成显著的负面影响。此外,油价不确定性延长了油价变动对中国经济产生的负面影响,相应缩短了其正面影响,而且,中国经济增长对油价正负冲击的响应具有不对称性。