We consider the asymptotic behavior of log-periodogram regression estimators of the memory parameter in long-memory stochastic volatility models, under the null hypothesis of short memory in volatility. We show that in this situation, if the periodogram is computed from the log squared returns, then the estimator is asymptotically normal, with the same asymptotic mean and variance that would hold if the series were Gaussian. In particular, for the widely used GPH estimator [d with circumflex above]GPH under the null hypothesis, the asymptotic mean of m1/2[d with circumflex above]GPH is zero and the asymptotic variance is π2/24 where m is the number of Fourier frequencies used in the regression. This justifies an ordinary Wald test for long memory in volatility based on the log periodogram of the log squared returns.

This paper proposes a notion of near cointegration and generalizes several existing results from the cointegration literature to the case of near cointegration. In particular, the properties of conventional cointegration methods under near cointegration are characterized, thereby investigating the robustness of cointegration methods. In addition, we obtain local asymptotic power functions of five cointegration tests that take cointegration as the null hypothesis.

We study the asymptotic properties of the tests suggested by Choi and Ahn (1995, Econometric Theory 11, 952–983) in the case of a (nearly) improper normalization of the cointegration vectors. To overcome the size problems in such situations we suggest a test statistic that is based on the eigenvalues of a canonical correlation analysis. Using Monte Carlo simulations, the small sample properties of our test are compared to various other test statistics recently suggested in the literature.

Asymptotic theory for heteroskedasticity autocorrelation consistent (HAC) covariance matrix estimators requires the truncation lag, or bandwidth, to increase more slowly than the sample size. This paper considers an alternative approach covering the case with the asymptotic covariance matrix estimated by kernel methods with truncation lag equal to sample size. Although such estimators are inconsistent, valid tests (asymptotically pivotal) for regression parameters can be constructed. The limiting distributions explicitly capture the truncation lag and choice of kernel. A local asymptotic power analysis shows that the Bartlett kernel delivers the highest power within a group of popular kernels. Finite sample simulations suggest that, regardless of the kernel chosen, the null asymptotic approximation of the new tests is often more accurate than that for conventional HAC estimators and asymptotics. Finite sample results on power show that the new approach is competitive.

Presently, conditions ensuring the validity of bootstrap methods for the sample mean of (possibly heterogeneous) near epoch dependent (NED) functions of mixing processes are unknown. Here we establish the validity of the bootstrap in this context, extending the applicability of bootstrap methods to a class of processes broadly relevant for applications in economics and finance. Our results apply to two block bootstrap methods: the moving blocks bootstrap of Künsch (1989, Annals of Statistics 17, 1217–1241) and Liu and Singh (1992, in R. LePage & L. Billiard (eds.), Exploring the Limits of the Bootstrap, 224–248) and the stationary bootstrap of Politis and Romano (1994a, Journal of the American Statistical Association 89, 1303–1313). In particular, the consistency of the bootstrap variance estimator for the sample mean is shown to be robust against heteroskedasticity and dependence of unknown form. The first-order asymptotic validity of the bootstrap approximation to the actual distribution of the sample mean is also established in this heterogeneous NED context.

This paper analyzes the limit distribution of minimum distance (MD) estimators for nonstationary time series models that involve nonlinear parameter restrictions. A rotation for the restricted parameter space is constructed to separate the components of the MD estimator that converge at different rates. We derive regularity conditions for the restriction function that are easier to verify than the stochastic equicontinuity conditions that arise from direct estimation of the restricted parameters. The sequence of matrices that is used to weigh the discrepancy between the unrestricted estimates and the restriction function is allowed to have a stochastic limit. For MD estimators based on unrestricted estimators with a mixed normal asymptotic distribution the optimal weight matrix is derived and a goodness-of-fit test is proposed. Our estimation theory is illustrated in the context of a permanent-income model and a present-value model.

Non- or semiparametric estimation and lag selection methods are proposed for three seasonal nonlinear autoregressive models of varying seasonal flexibility. All procedures are based on either local constant or local linear estimation. For the semiparametric models, after preliminary estimation of the seasonal parameters, the function estimation and lag selection are the same as nonparametric estimation and lag selection for standard models. A Monte Carlo study demonstrates good performance of all three methods. The semiparametric methods are applied to German real gross national product and UK public investment data. For these series our procedures provide evidence of nonlinear dynamics.

Consistency of kernel estimators of the long-run covariance matrix of a linear process is established under weak moment and memory conditions. In addition, it is pointed out that some existing consistency proofs are in error as they stand.

In Econometric Theory, vol. 18, no. 4, p. 1008, the phrase “Solution, proposed by O. Linton and D. Kristensen” should be changed to “Solution, proposed by O. Linton, D. Kristensen, and G. Dhaene.