Assessing point forecast accuracy by stochastic error distance

Francis X. Diebold, Minchul Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We propose point forecast accuracy measures based directly on distance of the forecast-error c.d.f. from the unit step function at 0 (“stochastic error distance,” or SED). We provide a precise characterization of the relationship between SED and standard predictive loss functions, and we show that all such loss functions can be written as weighted SEDs. The leading case is absolute error loss. Among other things, this suggests shifting attention away from conditional-mean forecasts and toward conditional-median forecasts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)588-598
JournalEconometric Reviews
Volume36
Issue number6-9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Absolute error loss
  • forecast accuracy
  • forecast evaluation
  • quadratic loss
  • squared error loss

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Economics and Econometrics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessing point forecast accuracy by stochastic error distance'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this