A Study of Business Cycle Index Using Dynamic Factor Model

동태적 요인모형을 이용한 경기동행지수 개발에 관한 연구

This paper examines the alternative method to measure the state of overall economic activity. The macroeconomic variables, used for business cycle, take more than a month after a period for collection and aggregation. The electricity generation data is compiled in mechanical ways just after the period. Based on this fact, we develop the two stage estimation method for coincident economic indicators in order to detect the business cycle in an earlier period, using Stock-Watson's Dynamic Factor Model. Using monthly data from 1970 to 1999, it is found that the experimental coincidence economic indicators are well-fitted to data and also that the estimates of two stage estimation method have good explanatory power, equivalent to the experimental coincidence economic indicators. While the RMSE of coincidence economic indicators is found to be 1.27%, that of the experimental coincidence economic indicators is found to be 1.31% and that of the two stage estimation method is around 1.44%. If we take consideration into the fact that it measures the business cycle in one month earlier, we come to the conclusion that the two stage estimation is of great use.