Dynamic Models and Vector Autoregression

ECONORIA Evidence Lab 11

EVIDENCE LAB · 11

Dynamic Models
& Vector Autoregression.

Economic variables respond with delay and interact through feedback. Learn to model persistence, multivariate dynamics and the propagation of structural innovations.

11 Laboratory80 MinutesΦ(L) Dynamics
A(L)YₜSYSTEM

LAGSSHOCKRESPONSE

01 · DYNAMIC BUILDING BLOCKS

Today depends
on yesterday.

AR(1)

Persistence

The variable depends on its own previous value. Stability requires |ρ| < 1.

Yₜ = α + ρYₜ₋₁ + εₜ

DL

Distributed lag

An explanatory variable affects the outcome now and across later periods.

Yₜ = α + ΣβⱼXₜ₋ⱼ + εₜ

VAR

System feedback

Every variable may depend on lags of every variable in the system.

Yₜ = c + A₁Yₜ₋₁ + uₜ

02 · THE VAR SYSTEM

Endogenous variables
evolve together.

Yₜ = c + A₁Yₜ₋₁ + … + AₚYₜ₋ₚ + uₜ

Lag selection

Too few lags omit dynamics; too many consume degrees of freedom and weaken precision.

Identification

Reduced-form innovations are correlated mixtures. Structural interpretation requires restrictions.

Impulse response

An IRF traces the time path of all variables after a one-time identified shock.

VAR DYNAMICS STUDIO

Shock the system.
Trace the response.

Select an innovation, its magnitude, persistence and cross-variable transmission. ECONORIA generates impulse responses for output, inflation and the policy rate.

IMPULSE RESPONSE FUNCTIONSPOLICY RATE SHOCK

Output response

Inflation response

Policy-rate response

PEAK OUTPUT RESPONSE
PEAK INFLATION RESPONSE
HALF-LIFE

SYSTEM INTERPRETATION

03 · VAR DISCIPLINE

Dynamic patterns are not structural truth
without identification.

Check stationarity

Model stable dynamics or justify cointegration and error correction.

Select lags

Use information criteria, diagnostics and economic timing.

Defend ordering

Recursive identification embeds contemporaneous assumptions.

Report uncertainty

Impulse responses require confidence bands and robustness checks.

Complete Laboratory 11 →

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Trace the system.

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