Working Paper: NBER ID: w7257
Authors: Lawrence J. Christiano; Terry J. Fitzgerald
Abstract: The `ideal' band pass filter can be used to isolate the component of a time series that lies within a particular band of frequencies. However, applying this filter requires a dataset of infinite length. In practice, some sort of approximation is needed. Using projections, we derive approximations that are optimal when the time series representations underlying the raw data have a unit root, or are stationary about a trend. We identify one approximation which, though it is only optimal for one particular time series representation, nevertheless works well for standard macroeconomic time series. To illustrate the use of this approximation, we use it to characterize the change in the nature of the Phillips curve and the money-inflation relation before and after the 1960s. We find that there is surprisingly little change in the Phillips curve and substantial change in money growth-inflation relation.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: E3; C2; C22
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| ideal band pass filter (C46) | isolates frequency components (C22) |
| approximation (C60) | accuracy of filtering (C52) |
| time period (before/after 1960s) (B15) | Phillips curve dynamics (E31) |
| time period (before/after 1960s) (B15) | relationship between money growth and inflation (O42) |