Comparing Possibly Misspecified Forecasts

Abstract

Recent work has emphasized the importance of evaluating estimates of a statistical functional (such as a conditional mean, quantile, or distribution) using a loss function that is consistent for the functional of interest, of which there is an infinite number. If forecasters all use correctly specified models free from estimation error, and if the information sets of competing forecasters are nested, then the ranking induced by a single consistent loss function is sufficient for the ranking by any consistent loss function. This article shows, via analytical results and realistic simulation-based analyses, that the presence of misspecified models, parameter estimation error, or nonnested information sets, leads generally to sensitivity to the choice of (consistent) loss function. Thus, rather than merely specifying the target functional, which narrows the set of relevant loss functions only to the class of loss functions consistent for that functional, forecast consumers or survey designers should specify the single specific loss function that will be used to evaluate forecasts. An application to survey forecasts of U.S. inflation illustrates the results.     

市场预测支持系统的预测模型研究

本文运用模糊数学和统计相关的理论,预测支持系统确定预测量的相关因子,分析了建造预测模型的过程,给出了待预测量的预测模型,并验证之。     

信息条件下的城市运输规划方法

交通网络中信息的引入,改变了以往人们的出行行为。常规的出行需求预测模型在信息条件下,需要进行合理改进。本文提出了将传统的出行产生模型与动态交通模拟模型集成进行信息条件下的城市运输规划研究的一种新的方法框架     

A novel auto-regressive fractionally integrated moving average–least-squares support vector machine model for electricity spot prices prediction

In the framework of competitive electricity market, prices forecasting has become a real challenge for all market participants. However, forecasting is a rather complex task since electricity prices involve many features comparably with those in financial markets. Electricity markets are more unpredictable than other commodities referred to as extreme volatile. Therefore, the choice of the forecasting model has become even more important. In this paper, a new hybrid model is proposed. This model exploits the feature and strength of the auto-regressive fractionally integrated moving average model as well as least-squares support vector machine model. The expected prediction combination takes advantage of each model's strength or unique capability. The proposed model is examined by using data from the Nordpool electricity market. Empirical results showed that the proposed method has the best prediction accuracy compared to other methods.     

青少年犯罪适用“宽严相济”政策之我见

本文通过对青少年犯罪适用宽严相济政策概念的界定和法理依据的研究,并通过对青少年犯罪实践办理过程中的经验总结,对该政策的执行提出了自己的想法,期望引起大家对青少年犯罪使用宽严相济政策的重视和深入研究。     

Do we need the constant term in the heterogenous autoregressive model for forecasting realized volatilities?

No-constant strategy is considered for the heterogenous autoregressive (HAR) model of Corsi, which is motivated by smaller biases of its estimated HAR coefficients than those of the constant HAR model. The no-constant model produces better forecasts than the constant model for four real datasets of the realized volatilities (RVs) of some major assets. Robustness of forecast improvement is verified for other functions of realized variance and log RV and for the extended datasets of all 20 RVs of Oxford-Man realized library. A Monte Carlo simulation also reveals improved forecasts for some historic HAR model estimated by Corsi.     

Modeling and forecasting realized covariance matrices with accounting for leverage

The existing dynamic models for realized covariance matrices do not account for an asymmetry with respect to price directions. We modify the recently proposed conditional autoregressive Wishart (CAW) model to allow for the leverage effect. In the conditional threshold autoregressive Wishart (CTAW) model and its variations the parameters governing each asset's volatility and covolatility dynamics are subject to switches that depend on signs of previous asset returns or previous market returns. We evaluate the predictive ability of the CTAW model and its restricted and extended specifications from both statistical and economic points of view. We find strong evidence that many CTAW specifications have a better in-sample fit and tend to have a better out-of-sample predictive ability than the original CAW model and its modifications.     

考虑成分股联跳与宏观信息发布的沪深300指数已实现波动率模型研究

利用日内高频数据计算的已实现波动率较好度量了金融资产的风险,因此对其预测模型的研究具有重要意义。考虑到指数成分股的联跳可能蕴含指数跳跃所未能反映的信息,提出运用非参数方法识别指数成分股的联跳,采用自回归条件风险模型估计成分股联跳强度,并将其引入指数的已实现波动率异质自回归（HAR-RV-CJ）模型中,分析模型预测性能的改进。进一步的,考虑到宏观信息公告的发布可能对股市产生整体性影响,相应影响成分股联跳的几率;因此,在成分股联跳的自回归条件风险模型中引入居民消费价格指数、国内生产总值、贸易差额等宏观信息公告变量,并分析对联跳强度估计以及指数已实现波动率预测的影响。采用2011年1月4日至2013年7月11日沪深300指数及其成分股高频数据的实证表明,指数成分股联跳与指数跳跃具有不同的特征;用成分股联跳强度代替HAR-RV-CJ模型中的跳跃构建的HAR-RV-CI模型,较原始的HAR-RV-CJ模型,以及同时考虑指数跳跃与成分股联跳强度的HAR-RV-CJI模型,具有明显较优的样本内拟合与样本外预测性能。引入宏观信息公告变量可以改进联跳强度自回归条件风险模型的拟合效果,并提高指数已实现波动率模型的样本内拟合能力,但对于指数已实现波动率的样本外预测性能并无明显的帮助。     

关于“研学结合”教学改革的理性思考

本文从“研学结合”教学改革的核心内容、理论基石、综合实践方式、效能评价等四个方面进行理性思考和梳理,以期能够基本客观、较为全面地描述这一高职教育教学改革实践,为进一步推广实践经验,促进财经类高职人才质量提升,形成优秀的有特色的实践成果奠定理论基础.     

A Sales Forecast Model for Short‐Life‐Cycle Products: New Releases at Blockbuster

We develop, in this article, a sales model for movie and game products at Blockbuster. The model assumes that there are three sales components: the first is from consumers who have already committed to purchasing (or renting) a product (e.g., based on promotion of, or exposure to, the product prior to its launch); the second comes from consumers who are potential buyers of the product; and the third comes from either a networking effect on closely tied (as in a social group) potential buyers from previous buyers (in the case of movie rental and all retail products) or re‐rents (in the case of game rental). In addition, we explicitly formulate into our model dynamic interactions between these sales components, both within and across sales periods. This important feature is motivated by realism, and it significantly contributes to the accuracy of our model. The model is thoroughly tested against sales data for rental and retail products from Blockbuster. Our empirical results show that the model offers excellent fit to actual sales activity. We also demonstrate that the model is capable of delivering reasonable sales forecasts based solely on environmental data (e.g., theatrical sales, studio, genre, MPAA ratings, etc.) and actual first‐period sales. Accurate sales forecasts can lead to significant cost savings. In particular, it can improve the retail operations at Blockbuster by determining appropriate order quantities of products, which is critical in effective inventory management (i.e., it can reduce the extent of over‐stocking and under‐stocking). While our model is developed specifically for product sales at Blockbuster, we believe that with context‐dependent modifications, our modeling approach could also provide a reasonable basis for the study of sales for other short‐Life‐Cycle products.