This research is based on a detailed description of model building for multivariate time series
models. Under the assumption of stationarity, identification, estimation of the parameters and
diagnostic checking for the Vector Auto regressive (p) (VAR(p)), Vector Moving Average (q)
(VMA(q)) and Vector Auto regressive Moving Average (VARMA(p, q) ) models are described in
detail. With reference to the non-stationary case, the concept of cointegration is explained.
Procedures for testing for cointegration, determining the cointegrating rank and estimation of
the cointegrated model in the VAR(p) and VARMA(p, q) cases are discussed.
The utility of multivariate time series models in the field of economics is discussed and its use is
demonstrated by analysing quarterly South African inflation and wage data from April 1996 to
December 2008. A review of the literature shows that multivariate time series analysis allows
the researcher to: (i) understand phenomenon which occur regularly over a period of time (ii)
determine interdependencies between series (iii) establish causal relationships between series
and (iv) forecast future variables in a time series based on current and past values of that
variable. South African wage and inflation data was analysed using SAS version 9.2. Stationary
VAR and VARMA models were run. The model with the best fit was the VAR model as the
forecasts were reliable, and the small values of the Portmanteau statistic indicated that the
model had a good fit. The VARMA models by contrast, had large values of the Portmanteau
statistic as well as unreliable forecasts and thus were found not to fit the data well. There is
therefore good evidence to suggest that wage increases occur independently of inflation, and
while inflation can be predicted from its past values, it is dependent on wages. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/10352 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Vayej, Suhayl Muhammed. |
| Contributors | Moolman, W. H. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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