Nonparametric estimation in a nonlinear cointegration type model

Abstract

We derive an asymptotic theory of nonparametric estimation for a time series regression model Z_t=f(X_t)+W_t, where {X_t} and {Z_t} are observed nonstationary processes and {W_t} is an unobserved stationary process. In econometrics, this can be interpreted as a nonlinear cointegration type relationship, but we believe that our results are of wider interest. The class of nonstationary processes allowed for {X_t} is a subclass of the class of null recurrent Markov chains. This subclass contains random walk, unit root processes and nonlinear processes. We derive the asymptotics of a nonparametric estimate of f(x) under the assumption that {W_t} is a Markov chain satisfying some mixing conditions. The finite-sample properties of f̂(x) are studied by means of simulation experiments.