Constructing Reference Cycles with Multivariate Information

The chapter looks at how recurrent events might be dated by using a number of series rather than a single one. There is no one method to do this, but in many cases, the procedures come up with rather similar results. Much depends on how one wants to use the dating information. If it is for judging models or evaluating some macroeconomic propositions, then the ability to automate the selection process easily would be a paramount consideration. Alternatively, if it was desired to establish a definitive dating of cycles in activity or financial series, then it is probably the case that a variety of methods would be used with some judgment applied when determining the weight given to each. Further work is needed on how the methods perform when faced with simulations from estimated models rather than using actual data, as their effectiveness is unclear in such a changed environment.