Markov‐Switching Estimation of Spatial Maize Price Transmission Processes between Tanzania and Kenya

Abstract

We discuss the Markov-switching vector au toregressive (MS-VAR) class of nonlinear time series models that can be used to analyze recurring discrete structural changes in time series. Hamilton's (1989) seminal Markov switching (MS) model of the U.S. business cy cle triggered considerable interest in the MS approach in economics. Most empirical appli cations to date have focused on the business cy cle and financial markets, but we see potential for MS-VAR models in agricultural economics, for example, in price transmission analysis. In the following, we first provide an overview of the MS-VAR framework. We then present an illustrative application to maize price trans mission between Tanzania and Kenya. The article closes with a discussion of strengths, weaknesses, and potential uses of the MS-VAR approach in price transmission analysis.