Dickey–Fuller test

In statistics, the Dickey–Fuller test tests whether a unit root is present in an autoregressive model. It is named after the statisticians D. A. Dickey and W. A. Fuller, who developed the test in 1979.^[1]

Explanation

A simple AR(1) model is

$y_{t}=\rho y_{t-1}+u_{t}\,$

where y_t is the variable of interest, t is the time index, ρ is a coefficient, and u_t is the error term. A unit root is present if ρ = 1. The model would be non-stationary in this case.

The regression model can be written as

$\nabla y_{t}=(\rho-1)y_{t-1}+u_{t}=\delta y_{t-1}+u_{t}\,$

where ∇ is the first difference operator. This model can be estimated and testing for a unit root is equivalent to testing δ = 0 (where δ = ρ − 1). Since the test is done over the residual term rather than raw data, it is not possible to use standard t-distribution to provide critical values. Therefore this statistic τ has a specific distribution simply known as the Dickey–Fuller table.

There are three main versions of the test:

1. Test for a unit root:

$\nabla y_t =\delta y_{t-1}+u_t \,$

2. Test for a unit root with drift:

$\nabla y_t =a_0+\delta y_{t-1}+u_t \,$

3. Test for a unit root with drift and deterministic time trend:

$\nabla y_t = a_0+a_1t+\delta y_{t-1}+u_t \,$

Each version of the test has its own critical value which depends on the size of the sample. In each case, the null hypothesis is that there is a unit root, δ = 0. The tests have low statistical power in that they often cannot distinguish between true unit-root processes (δ = 0)and near unit-root processes (δ is close to zero). This is called the "near observation equivalence" problem.

The intuition behind the test is as follows. If the series y is stationary (or trend stationary), then it has a tendency to return to a constant (or deterministically trending) mean. Therefore large values will tend to be followed by smaller values (negative changes), and small values by larger values (positive changes). Accordingly, the level of the series will be a significant predictor of next period's change, and will have a negative coefficient. If, on the other hand, the series is integrated, then positive changes and negative changes will occur with probabilities that do not depend on the current level of the series; in a random walk, where you are now does not affect which way you will go next.

It is notable that

$\nabla y_t =a_0 + u_t \,$

may be rewritten as

$y_t = y_0 + \sum_{i=1}^t u_i + a_0t$

with a deterministic trend coming from a₀t and a stochastic intercept term coming from $y_0 + \sum_{i=1}^t u_i$, resulting in what is referred to as a stochastic trend.^[2]

There is also an extension of the Dickey–Fuller (DF) test called the augmented Dickey-Fuller test (ADF), which removes all the structural effects (autocorrelation) in the time series and then tests using the same procedure.

Dealing with uncertainty about including the intercept and deterministic time trend terms

Which of the three main versions of the test should be used is not a minor issue. The decision is important for the size of the unit root test (the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis of a unit root when there is one) and the power of the unit root test (the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis of a unit root when there is not one). Inappropriate exclusion of the intercept or deterministic time trend term leads to bias in the coefficient estimate for δ, leading to the actual size for the unit root test not matching the reported one. If the time trend term is inappropriately excluded with the a₀ term estimated, then the power of the unit root test can be substantially reduced as a trend may be captured through the random-walk with drift model.^[3] On the other hand, inappropriate inclusion of the intercept or time trend term reduces the power of the unit root test, and sometimes that reduced power can be substantial.

Use of prior knowledge about whether the intercept and deterministic time trend should be included is of course ideal but not always possible. When such prior knowledge is unavailable, various testing strategies (series of ordered tests) have been suggested, e.g. by Dolado, Jenkinson, and Sosvilla-Rivero (1990)^[4] and by Enders (2004), often with the ADF extension to remove autocorrelation. Elder and Kennedy (2001)^[5] present a simple testing strategy that avoids double and triple testing for the unit root that can occur with other testing strategies, and discusses how to use prior knowledge about the existence or not of long-run growth (or shrinkage) in y. Hacker and Hatemi-J (2010)^[6] provide simulation results on these matters, including simulations covering the Enders (2004) and Elder and Kennedy (2001) unit-root testing strategies. Simulation results are presented in Hacker (2010)^[7] which indicate that using an information criterion such as the Schwarz information criterion may be useful in determining unit root and trend status within a Dickey-Fuller framework.

See also

• Augmented Dickey–Fuller test
• Phillips–Perron test
• Unit root

References

1. ^ Dickey, D.A. and W.A. Fuller (1979), “Distribution of the Estimators for Autoregressive Time Series with a Unit Root,” Journal of the American Statistical Association, 74, p. 427–431.
2. ^ Enders, W.(2004) Applied Econometric Time Series, Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons: United States.
3. ^ Campbell, J.Y. and Perron, P.(1991) “Pitfalls and Opportunities: What Macroeconomists Should Know about Unit Roots”. Technical Working Paper 100, NBER Working Paper Series. National Bureau of Economic Research. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
4. ^ Dolado, J.J., Jenkinson, T., and Sosvilla-Rivero, S. (1990) “Cointegration and Unit Roots". Journal of Economic Surveys, 4(3): 249-273.
5. ^ Elder, J. and Kennedy, P. E.(2001) “Testing for Unit Roots: What Should Students Be Taught?”. Journal of Economic Education, 32(2): 137-146.
6. ^ Hacker, R.S., and Hatemi-J, A.(2010) “The Properties of Procedures Dealing with Uncertainty about Intercept and Deterministic Trend in Unit Root Testing”. CESIS Electronic Working Paper Series, Paper No. 214. Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
7. ^ Hacker, R.S.(2010) “The Effectiveness of Information Criteria in Determining Unit Root and Trend Status”. CESIS Electronic Working Paper Series, Paper No. 213. Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.

External links

• Statistical tables for unit-root tests – Dickey–Fuller table
• How to do a "Regular" Dickey-Fuller Test Using Excel