Volume 11, Issue 4 December 2015

How Frequently Should We Reestimate DSGE Models?

Abstract

A common practice in policymaking institutions using DSGE models for forecasting is to reestimate them only occasionally rather than every forecasting round. In this paper we ask how such a practice affects the accuracy of DSGE modelbased forecasts. To this end we use a canonical medium-sized New Keynesian model and compare how its quarterly real-time forecasts for the U.S. economy vary with the interval between consecutive reestimations. We find that updating the model parameters only once a year usually does not lead to any significant deterioration in the accuracy of point forecasts. On the other hand, there are some gains from increasing the frequency of reestimation if one is interested in the quality of density forecasts.

Authors

  • Marcin Kolasa
  • Michal Rubasz

JEL codes

  • C53
  • E37

Other papers in this issue

Mikael Apel and Carl Andreas Claussen and Petra Lennartsdotter and Øistein Røisland

Eyal Argov and Alon Binyamini and Eliezer Borenstein and Irit Rozenshtrom