Dimitrios D. Thomakos

Protection For Sale In A Developing Country: Democracy Vs. Dictatorship

For a genuine small open economy that has experienced both dictatorship and democracy, we find support for the predictions of the Grossman-Helpman (1994) Protection for Sale model. In contrast to previous studies, we use various protection measures (including tariffs, the direct measure of the theoretical model) and perform both single-year and panel regressions. Using Turkish industry-level data, the governments weight on welfare is estimated to be much larger than that on contributions. More importantly, we find that this weight is generally higher for the democratic regime than for dictatorship.

Naïve, Arima, Nonparametric, Transfer Function, and VAR Models: A Comparison of Forecasting Performance

We examine the forecasting performance of parametric and nonparametric models based on a training-validation sample approach and the use of rolling short-term forecasts to compute root mean-squared errors,We find that the performance of these models is better than that of the naive, no-change model. The use of bivariate models (like VAR and transfer functions) provides additional root mean-squared error reductions. In many cases the nonparametric models forecast as well or better than the parametric models. Our analysis suggests that (a) nonparametric models are attractive complements to parametric univariate models, and (b) simple VAR models should be considered before attempting to fit transfer function models.

Modeling daily realized futures volatility with singular spectrum analysis

Using singular spectrum analysis (SSA), we model the realized volatility and logarithmic standard deviations of two important futures return series. The realized volatility and logarithmic standard deviations are constructed following the methodology of Andersen et al. [J. Am. Stat. Ass. 96 (2001) 42–55] using intra-day transaction data. We find that SSA decomposes the volatility series quite well and effectively captures both the market trend (accounting for about 34–38% of the total variance in the series) and, more importantly, a number of underlying market periodicities. Reliable identification of any periodicities is extremely important for options pricing and risk management and we believe that SSA can be a useful addition to the financial practitioners’ toolbox.

Exchange Rate Uncertainty, Sociopolitical Instability and Private Investment: Empirical Evidence from Latin America

Using exchange rate uncertainty (ERU) and sociopolitical instability (SPI) as measures of macroeconomic imbalances and political disorder, respectively, we investigate the link between these two factors and private investment in Latin America. The analysis shows that while ERU and SPI negatively impact private investment jointly, the individual impact of ERU is much greater than that of SPI. Our results should prove useful both to policymakers and others interested in understanding the impact of uncertainty on private investment. Most importantly, macroeconomic policies that limit excess volatility in relative prices should lessen an economys general level of investment risk leading to enhanced private investment. Further, though lesser in degree, institutional reforms that reduce social tensions and strengthen property rights should also stimulate private investment. Finally, structural reforms that combine these two are likely to foster a robust market for private investment thus contributing to an economys growth potential. Copyright

Optimal Linear Filtering, Smoothing and Trend Extraction for Processes with Unit Roots and Cointegration

In this paper I propose a novel optimal linear filter for smoothing, trend and signal extraction for time series with a unit root. The filter is based on the Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) methodology, takes the form of a particular moving average and is different from other linear filters that have been used in the existing literature. To best of my knowledge this is the first time that moving average smoothing is given an optimality justification for use with unit root processes. The frequency response function of the filter is examined and a new method for selecting the degree of smoothing is suggested. I also show that the filter can be used for successfully extracting a unit root signal from stationary noise. The proposed methodology can be extended to also deal with two cointegrated series and I show how to estimate the cointegrating coefficient using SSA and how to extract the common stochastic trend component. A simulation study explores some of the characteristics of the filter for signal extraction, trend prediction and cointegration estimation for univariate and bivariate series. The practical usefulness of the method is illustrated using data for the US real GDP and two financial time series.

Market timing and cap rotation

We examine the predictability of stock index returns (S&P500, S&P400 and Russell 2000) using the short-term interest rate as a predictor variable. Contrary to recent advances in the literature, we do find that the short-term interest rate has predictive power but over the relative performance of stock index returns (that is, when one accounts for cross-index differences), especially during the period when one of the index returns is negative. Trading strategies based on the finding prove to be profitable.

TRADING ENERGY ETFs WITH AN IMPROVED MOVING AVERAGE STRATEGY

In this paper, the recently introduced improved moving average methodology in [1] is employed and it is applied in two energy ETFs. It is compared to the standard moving average methodology and the buy and hold strategy. Investors who are interested in energy-related sectors and trade using averages, could benefit by forming their strategies based on this improved moving average methodology as it returns higher profits accompanied by decreased risk (measured in terms of drawdown).

“Out of Sync”: The Breakdown of Economic Sentiment Cycles in the EU

Empirical evidence is presented about the properties of economic sentiment cycle synchronization for Germany, France and the UK and they are compared with the “crisis” countries Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. Instead of using output data it is preferred to focus on the economic sentiment indicator (ESI), a forward-looking, survey-based variable consistently available from 1985. The cyclical nature of the ESI allowed the analyis of the presence or not of synchronicity among country pairs before and after the onset of the financial crisis. The results show that ESI movements were mostly synchronous before 2008 but they exhibit a breakdown after 2008, with this feature being more prominent in Greece. It is also found that, after the political maneuvering of the past two years, a cycle re-integration or re-synchronization is on the way. An analysis of the evolution of the synchronicity measures indicates that they can potentially be used to identify sudden phase breaks in ESI co-movement and they can offer a signal as to when the EU economies are getting “in” or “out of sync”.

External Financing, Growth and Stock Returns

In this paper we investigate the relation of the value/growth anomaly with the anomaly on corporate financing activities. We confirm and expand earlier results that value/growth and external financing indicators are, to some degree, related predictors of stock returns in the cross section. We show that external financing indicators are incrementally informative since they pick up stock returns associated with earnings quality. Portfolios that combine information from both these indicators generate significantly higher returns than portfolios containing each individual indicator. More importantly, our analysis strongly suggests that the external financing anomaly is, to some extent, distinct from the value/growth anomaly, in that it may also reflect investors’ misunderstanding of the effects of opportunistic earnings management.

The Implications of Retained and Distributed Earnings for Future Profitability and Stock Returns

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the informational content of retained and distributed earnings for future profitability and stock returns. Design/methodology/approach - The paper utilizes firm-level cross-sectional persistent regressions, Mishkins econometric framework and portfolio-level analysis. Findings - The paper shows that investors act as if the components of retained earnings (current operating accruals, non-current operating accruals and retained cash flows) have similar implications for future profitability, leading to an overvaluation of their differential persistence. It also appears that while they cannot distinguish between the distinct properties of distributed earnings, they correctly anticipate the persistence of net cash distributions to debt holders (net debt repayment) but underestimate the persistence of net cash distributions to equity holders (dividends minus net stock issues). Overall, the findings of the paper suggest that the accrual anomaly documented in the accounting literature and the anomaly on net stock issues documented in the finance literature could be a subset of a larger anomaly on retained earnings. Originality/value - The paper enhances ones understanding of the conflicting markets reaction to the accrual and cash flow component of earnings.