The Global Financial Crisis and Stochastic Convergence in the Euro Area

29 Pages Posted: 25 Dec 2010 Last revised: 8 Apr 2012

See all articles by Giorgio Canarella

Giorgio Canarella

California State University, Los Angeles - Department of Economics & Statistics; University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Stephen M. Miller

University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Department of Economics; University of Connecticut - Department of Economics

Stephen K. Pollard

TUI University

Date Written: December 24, 2010

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of stochastic convergence of the original Euro Area countries for inflation rates, nominal interest rates, and real interest rates. We test for convergence relative to Germany, taken as the benchmark for core EU standards, using monthly data over the period January 2001 to September 2010. We examine, in a time-series framework, three different profiles of the convergence process: linear convergence, nonlinear convergence, and linear segmented convergence. Our findings both contradict and support convergence. Stochastic convergence implies the rejection of a unit root in the inflation rate, nominal interest rate, and real interest rate differentials. We find that the differentials are consistent with a unit-root hypothesis when the alternative hypothesis is I(0) with a linear trend. But we frequently, but not always, reject the unit-root hypothesis when the alternative is I(0) with a broken trend. We also note that the current financial crisis plays a significant role in dating the breaks.

Keywords: Stochastic convergence, Nonlinearity, Unit-root tests, Structural breaks

JEL Classification: F36, F42, C20, C50

Suggested Citation

Canarella, Giorgio and Miller, Stephen M. and Pollard, Stephen K., The Global Financial Crisis and Stochastic Convergence in the Euro Area (December 24, 2010). International Advances in Economic Research, August 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1730777

Giorgio Canarella

California State University, Los Angeles - Department of Economics & Statistics ( email )

Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90032
United States

University of Nevada, Las Vegas ( email )

4505 S. Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89154
United States

Stephen M. Miller (Contact Author)

University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Department of Economics ( email )

4505 S. Maryland Parkway
Box 456005
Las Vegas, NV 89154
United States
702-895-3776 (Phone)
702-895-1354 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://faculty.unlv.edu/smiller/

University of Connecticut - Department of Economics

365 Fairfield Way, U-1063
Storrs, CT 06269-1063
United States

Stephen K. Pollard

TUI University ( email )

5665 Plaza Dr., 3rd Floor
CA, 90630
Cypress, CA 90630
United States

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