Finite State Markov-Chain Approximations to Highly Persistent Processes

Kopecky, Karen A. and Suen, Richard M. H. (2009): Finite State Markov-Chain Approximations to Highly Persistent Processes. Unpublished.

Abstract

This paper re-examines the Rouwenhorst method of approximating first-order autoregressive processes. This method is appealing because it can match the conditional and unconditional mean, the conditional and unconditional variance and the first-order autocorrelation of any AR(1) process. This paper provides the first formal proof of this and other results. When comparing to five other methods, the Rouwenhorst method has the best performance in approximating the business cycle moments generated by the stochastic growth model. It is shown that, equipped with the Rouwenhorst method, an alternative approach to generating these moments has a higher degree of accuracy than the simulation method.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Numerical Methods; Finite State Approximations; Optimal Growth Model
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C6 - Mathematical Methods and Programming > C63 - Computational Techniques

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