The Hodrick-Prescott (HP) Filter as a Bayesian Regression Model

Abstract: The Hodrick-Prescott (HP) method is a popular smoothing method for economic time series to get a smooth or long-term component of stationary series like growth rates. We show that the HP smoother can be viewed as a Bayesian linear model with a strong prior using differencing matrices for t...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Link(s) zu Dokument(en):IHS Publikation
1. Verfasser: Polasek, Wolfgang
Format: IHS Series NonPeerReviewed
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: Institut für Höhere Studien 2011
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Abstract: The Hodrick-Prescott (HP) method is a popular smoothing method for economic time series to get a smooth or long-term component of stationary series like growth rates. We show that the HP smoother can be viewed as a Bayesian linear model with a strong prior using differencing matrices for the smoothness component. The HP smoothing approach requires a linear regression model with a Bayesian conjugate multi-normal-gamma distribution. The Bayesian approach also allows to make predictions of the HP smoother on both ends of the time series. Furthermore, we show how Bayes tests can determine the order of smoothness in the HP smoothing model. The extended HP smoothing approach is demonstrated for the non-stationary (textbook) airline passenger time series. Thus, the Bayesian extension of the HP model defines a new class of model-based smoothers for (non-stationary) time series and spatial models.;