All models are wrong but all can be useful: Robust policy design using prediction pools

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control
Year: 2025
Volume: 176
Issue: C

Authors (4)

Deák, Szabolcs (not in RePEc) Levine, Paul (University of Surrey) Mirza, Afrasiab (not in RePEc) Pearlman, Joseph (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study the design of monetary policy rules robust to model uncertainty using a novel methodology. In our application, policymakers choose the optimal rule by attaching weights to a set of well-established DSGE models with varied financial frictions. The novelty of our methodology is to compute each model's weight based on their relative forecasting performance. Our results highlight the superiority of predictive pools over Bayesian model averaging and the need to combine models when none can be deemed as the true data generating process. In addition, we find that the optimal across-model robust policy rule exhibits attenuation, and nests a price level rule which has good robustness properties. Therefore, the application of our methodology offers a new rationale for price-level rules, namely the presence of uncertainty over the nature of financial frictions.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:dyncon:v:176:y:2025:i:c:s0165188925000624
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25