The Yield Curve as a Predictor of Growth and Recession in Australia

Karunaratne, Neil Dias (1999) The Yield Curve as a Predictor of Growth and Recession in Australia. Discussion Paper No. 255, Department of Economics, The University of Queensland.

Attached Files (Some files may be inaccessible until you login with your UQ eSpace credentials)
Name Description MIMEType Size Downloads
econ_dp_255_99.pdf econ_dp_255_99.pdf application/pdf 1.58MB 1202
Author Karunaratne, Neil Dias
Title The Yield Curve as a Predictor of Growth and Recession in Australia
School, Department or Centre Department of Economics
Institution The University of Queensland
Report Number Discussion Paper No. 255
Publication date 1999-05-01
Subject 340403 Time-Series Analysis
340401 Economic Models and Forecasting
Abstract/Summary This paper estimates the slope of the yield curve using quarterly data on real GDP and the nominal spread proxied by the difference in returns from the 10 year bond rate and the 90 day bill rate. The time-series analysis after proper unit root tests using stationary variables revealed that the yield curve gives the best forecasts on real activity over a forecast horizon of one year (4 quarters ahead). Non-nested tests of rival models of alternative financial indicators demonstrated that the yield curve outperforms other financial indicators as a robust predictor of future real activity. The probit model forecasts of recessions indicated that the inverted slope of the yield curve for 4-quarter horizon gave the best recession prediction for Australia. The probit model predictions also gave probability estimates for the occurrence of recessions for different nominal spreads or slopes of the yield curve. The probit model predictions of recessions improved dramatically when a dynamic lag structure was incorporated. Empirical evidence demonstrates that the yield curve outperforms other financial indicators as a predictor of recessions in Australia. It is a simple and operational tool that can be validated using up-to-date data.
Keyword yield curve
business cycle turning points
expectations theory
inverted slope of the yield curve
probit models
dynamic probit models
prediction of recessions
Australia

Document type: Department Technical Report
Collection: Discussion Papers (School of Economics)
 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Citation counts: Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 1992 Abstract Views, 1202 File Downloads  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Wed, 02 Jun 2004, 10:00:00 EST by Belinda Weaver (EA)