Σύνοψη

MEASURING THE CORRELATION OF SHOCKS BETWEEN THE EU15 AND THE NEW MEMBER COUNTRIES

                                                           Stephen G.Hall
                                                   Leicester University and NIESR
                                                        George Hondroyiannis
                                         Bank of Greece, Economic Research Department

ABSTRACT

This paper considers the question of the symmetry of inflation, exchange rate changes and GDP shocks between the EU15 and the new member countries. It applies a relatively new technique, the orthogonal GARCH model, which allows us to calculate a complete time varying correlation matrix for these countries. We can then examine the way the conditional correlation of shocks between the EU15 and the new member countries has been evolving over time. Our results suggest that the shocks which hit the EU are not symmetrical with those affecting the majority of new member countries. In addition, most of the new member countries seem to exhibit relatively low correlation with EU15.

Keywords: Business cycle, GARCH

JEL classification: E32, C22

Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Heather Gibson and the participants at the Euro Area Business Cycle Network (EABCN) Workshop on Business Cycle and Acceding Countries, Vienna 23/24 April 2004, for discussions and helpful comments on a previous version of this paper. Financial Support from ESRC grant No L138250122 is gratefully acknowledged from the first author. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and not those of the Bank of Greece.

Correspondence:

George Hondroyiannis,
Economic Research Department,
Bank of Greece, 21, E. Venizelos Ave.
102 50 Athens, Greece
Tel. (0030-210) 320.2429, Fax (0030-210) 323.3025,
E-mail: ghondroyiannis@bankofgreece.gr