Martin Fankhauser: A (Robust) Bayes Approach to Non-Linear Functions of Dynamic Causal Effects

Seminars - PhD JM Practice Talk - Macroeconomics
(joint with PhD School)
Speakers
Martin Fankhauser, Bocconi University
12:30pm - 1:45pm
Alberto Alesina Seminar Room 5.e4.sr04 - floor 5 - via Roentgen 1

Abstract: Modern tools for macroeconomic policy evaluation and causal inference often rely on sufficient statistics, which are non-linear functions of impulse responses. This paper extends these methods to the case where we are only able to set identify dynamic causal effects within a VAR framework. I examine the complications that arise when applying non-linear transformations—such as regressions in the impulse response space—under set identification, and I propose a robust Bayes approach to address these issues. Further, by expressing parameters of interest as functions of the VAR’s orthogonal reduced form, I introduce a novel class of identification strategies sharpening the identification of dynamic causal effects.

for information contact angela.baldassarre@unibocconi.it or giulia.zenoni@unibocconi.it