Document Type

Discussion Paper

Publication Date

7-1-2001

CFDP Number

1308

CFDP Pages

14

Abstract

The maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) of the fractional difference parameter in the Gaussian ARFIMA(0, d ,0) model is well known to be asymptotically N (0, 6/ π 2 ). This paper develops a second order asymptotic expansion to the distribution of this statistic. The correction term for the density is shown to be independent of d , so that the MLE is second order pivotal for d . This feature of the MLE is unusual, at least in time series contexts. Simulations show that the normal approximation is poor and that the expansions make significant improvements in accuracy.

Included in

Economics Commons

Share

COinS