Can perpetual learning explain the forward-premium puzzle?

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Monetary Economics
Year: 2008
Volume: 55
Issue: 3
Pages: 477-490

Authors (2)

Chakraborty, Avik (not in RePEc) Evans, George W. (University of Oregon)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

Under rational expectations and risk neutrality the linear projection of exchange-rate change on the forward premium has a unit coefficient. However, empirical estimates of this coefficient are significantly less than one and often negative. We show that replacing rational expectations by discounted least-squares (or "perpetual") learning generates a negative bias that becomes strongest when the fundamentals are strongly persistent, i.e. close to a random walk. Perpetual learning can explain the forward-premium puzzle while simultaneously replicating other features of the data, including positive serial correlation of the forward premium and disappearance of the anomaly in other forms of the test.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:moneco:v:55:y:2008:i:3:p:477-490
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25