Dynamic Model Averaging and CPI Inflation Forecasts: A Comparison between the Euro Area and the United States

The paper forecasts consumer price inflation in the euro area (EA) and in the USA between 1980:Q1 and 2012:Q4 based on a large set of predictors, with dynamic model averaging (DMA) and dynamic model selection (DMS). DMA/DMS allows not solely for coefficients to change over time, but also for changes in the entire forecasting model over time. DMA/DMS provides on average the best inflation forecasts with regard to alternative approaches (such as the random walk). DMS outperforms DMA. These results are robust for different sample periods and for various forecast horizons. The paper highlights common features between the USA and the EA. First, two groups of predictors forecast inflation: temporary fundamentals that have a frequent impact on inflation but only for short time periods; and persistent fundamentals whose switches are less frequent over time. Second, the importance of some variables (particularly international food commodity prices, house prices and oil prices) as predictors for consumer price index inflation increases when such variables experience large shocks. The paper also shows that significant differences prevail in the forecasting models between the USA and the EA. Such differences can be explained by the structure of these respective economies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predicting Recessions with Leading Indicators: Model Averaging and Selection over the Business Cycle

Four methods of model selection—equally weighted forecasts, Bayesian model‐averaged forecasts, and two models produced by the machine‐learning algorithm boosting—are applied to the problem of predicting business cycle turning points with a set of common macroeconomic variables. The methods address a fundamental problem faced by forecasters: the most useful model is simple but makes use of all relevant indicators. The results indicate that successful models of recession condition on different economic indicators at different forecast horizons. Predictors that describe real economic activity provide the clearest signal of recession at very short horizons. In contrast, signals from housing and financial markets produce the best forecasts at longer forecast horizons. A real‐time forecast experiment explores the predictability of the 2001 and 2007 recessions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Forecast Combination and Bayesian Model Averaging: A Prior Sensitivity Analysis

In this study we evaluate the forecast performance of model‐averaged forecasts based on the predictive likelihood carrying out a prior sensitivity analysis regarding Zellner's g prior. The main results are fourfold. First, the predictive likelihood does always better than the traditionally employed ‘marginal’ likelihood in settings where the true model is not part of the model space. Secondly, forecast accuracy as measured by the root mean square error (RMSE) is maximized for the median probability model. On the other hand, model averaging excels in predicting direction of changes. Lastly, g should be set according to Laud and Ibrahim (1995: Predictive model selection. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society B 57 : 247–262) with a hold‐out sample size of 25% to minimize the RMSE (median model) and 75% to optimize direction of change forecasts (model averaging). We finally apply the aforementioned recommendations to forecast the monthly industrial production output of six countries, beating for almost all countries the AR(1) benchmark model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Forecasting regional house price inflation: a comparison between dynamic factor models and vector autoregressive models

This paper uses the dynamic factor model framework, which accommodates a large cross‐section of macroeconomic time series, for forecasting regional house price inflation. In this study, we forecast house price inflation for five metropolitan areas of South Africa using principal components obtained from 282 quarterly macroeconomic time series in the period 1980:1 to 2006:4. The results, based on the root mean square errors of one to four quarters ahead out‐of‐sample forecasts over the period 2001:1 to 2006:4 indicate that, in the majority of the cases, the Dynamic Factor Model statistically outperforms the vector autoregressive models, using both the classical and the Bayesian treatments. We also consider spatial and non‐spatial specifications. Our results indicate that macroeconomic fundamentals in forecasting house price inflation are important. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于混合先验分布的贝叶斯因子分析模型

针对现有因子分析模型不能充分融合模型参数信息问题,通过研究因子分析模型的统计结构,构造了参数的混合先验分布;利用贝叶斯定理证明了模型因子载荷阵的条件后验分布为矩阵t分布,协方差阵的条件后验分布为逆Wishart分布.实证研究表明:由于参数先验分布的作用,贝叶斯因子分析结果与传统的因子分析之间存在明显的差异.     

基于故障树分析和贝叶斯网络方法的液压举升机构故障诊断

为应对液压举升机故障原因复杂,诊断方法准确性不高等问题,提出一种基于故障树和贝叶斯网络的液压举升机故障诊断方法。首先建立液压举升机构故障树,然后将故障树转换为贝叶斯网络,利用三角模糊函数表示举升机底事件发生概率,得到底事件模糊概率,将其做为先验概率计算叶节点发生概率,进而求得根节点后验概率以及概率重要度,可快速诊断出故障点。     

基于Beta过程的高分辨ISAR成像

对于高信噪比、完整回波、目标平稳运动等理想观测环境,现有成像技术已经较为成熟,可以获得聚焦良好的高分辨逆合成孔径雷达(inverse synthetic aperture radar, ISAR)像。但在实际中的方位回波缺损与低信噪比观测情况下,随机相位误差等因素会降低现有成像算法的性能甚至使其失效。本文首先建立了ISAR稀疏观测模型,并基于稀疏贝叶斯学习理论,通过引入Beta过程非参数先验构建层级概率模型,进而交替利用Gibbs采样及最大似然方法对ISAR像及随机相位误差进行估计。实验结果表明,所提方法在低信噪比、回波缺损等复杂观测环境下能够获得聚焦良好的ISAR图像。     

基于贝叶斯网络的林业碳汇项目风险评价

【目的】发展林业碳汇是应对气候变化的重要途径,随着我国碳交易市场的逐步建立与完善,林业碳汇项目开发受到广泛关注,发展前景良好,但也面临诸多不确定性与风险。基于贝叶斯网络原理,对林业碳汇项目进行系统风险评价,为项目风险管理提供参考。【方法】以中国核证自愿减排(China certified emission reduction,CCER)林业碳汇项目为研究对象,利用多领域林业碳汇专家知识,通过确定网络结构与计算风险参数,构建基于贝叶斯网络的林业碳汇项目风险评价模型。结合专家访谈和实地调研信息,确定林业碳汇项目风险清单,并在此基础上确定风险贝叶斯网络结构;根据专家对各类风险因子发生概率及影响大小的打分,利用熵权法计算风险因子权重,以此获得每位专家对于风险源及总风险的评价结果,得到贝叶斯网络运行的全部参数。利用构建的风险评价模型,测度CCER林业碳汇项目整体风险水平并判断各类风险的主要风险因子;考虑不同类型CCER林业碳汇项目的特征差异,对该风险评价模型进行适应性调整,纳入项目类型节点,通过贝叶斯网络的节点概率模拟功能,计算4类CCER林业碳汇项目的风险值,比较不同类型CCER林业碳汇项目的风险差异。【结果】①CCER林业碳汇项目整体风险值为1.932,四大类风险的风险水平由高到低分别为政策风险、市场风险、技术风险和自然风险,风险值分别为2.150、2.022、1.925、1.546;②CCER林业碳汇项目中政策风险的主要风险因子为林业碳汇交易规则变化、国家减排政策变化;市场风险的主要风险因子为劳动力价格上涨、土地租金上涨;技术风险的主要风险因子为项目未能获得签发、项目未能获得备案;自然风险的主要风险因子为病虫害、森林火灾;③不同类型CCER林业碳汇项目风险水平由高到低分别为碳汇造林项目、竹子造林项目、森林经营项目、竹林经营项目,风险值分别为2.221、2.121、1.954、1.705。【结论】贝叶斯网络能够综合考虑风险水平及风险影响关系两方面信息,在项目风险评价方面具有一定优势。当前条件下CCER林业碳汇项目风险水平中等,政策风险与市场风险相对较高,企业主体参与林业碳汇项目投资决策时,应密切关注碳汇市场相关政策变化,对项目风险进行科学评估;有关部门应注重降低政策不确定性引发的系统性风险,并提高碳汇市场的稳定性与活跃性;简化林业碳汇项目开发程序,以降低项目开发的交易成本。     

巡线机器人在人造环境中的博弈行为研究

在人造环境中,利用博弈论中的Nash均衡和Nash讨价还价模型,研究两个利益冲突的巡线机器人群体通过不同策略获得收益的行为。     

一类Turing模型的Hopf分歧分析

讨论Turing模型的三阶泰勒展开式的常微形式:u′=αu(1-r1v2)+v(1-r2u),t0,v′=v(β+αr1uv)+u(γ+r2v),t0,u(0)=u0,v(0)=v0,其中-1β0,0α1,r10,r1、r2分别是三次项、二次项的系数.通过考虑平衡解的稳定性,判断Hopf分歧发生的条件和分歧方向.