Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/101349
Year of Publication: 
2012
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 598
Publisher: 
The Johns Hopkins University, Department of Economics, Baltimore, MD
Abstract: 
This chapter reviews some of the academic literature that links nominal and real term structures with the macroeconomy. The main conclusion is that none of our models is consistent with basic properties of nominal yields. It is difficult to explain the average shape of the nominal yield curve, the variation of yields over time, and the predictability of excess bond returns. There are two overarching problems. First, much of the variation over time in economic activity is orthogonal to variation in nominal yields, and vice versa. Second, although mean excess returns to nominal Treasury bonds are positive, these returns do not appear to positively covary with risks that require compensation, at least according to standard asset-pricing models.
Subjects: 
Term structure
affine models
macro-finance
no-arbitrage
JEL: 
G12
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
357.22 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.