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Main Authors: Read, Matthew, Zhu, Dan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.27088
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author Read, Matthew
Zhu, Dan
author_facet Read, Matthew
Zhu, Dan
contents We propose algorithms for conducting Bayesian inference in structural vector autoregressions identified using sign restrictions. The key feature of our approach is a sampling step based on 'soft' sign restrictions. This step draws from a target density that smoothly penalises parameter values that violate the restrictions, facilitating the use of computationally efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithms. An importance-sampling step yields draws conditional on the 'hard' sign restrictions. Relative to standard accept-reject sampling, the method substantially speeds up sampling when identification is tight. It also facilitates implementing prior-robust Bayesian methods. We illustrate the broad applicability of the approach in an oil-market model identified using a rich set of sign, elasticity and narrative restrictions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_27088
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Fast Posterior Sampling in Tightly Identified SVARs Using 'Soft' Sign Restrictions
Read, Matthew
Zhu, Dan
Econometrics
We propose algorithms for conducting Bayesian inference in structural vector autoregressions identified using sign restrictions. The key feature of our approach is a sampling step based on 'soft' sign restrictions. This step draws from a target density that smoothly penalises parameter values that violate the restrictions, facilitating the use of computationally efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithms. An importance-sampling step yields draws conditional on the 'hard' sign restrictions. Relative to standard accept-reject sampling, the method substantially speeds up sampling when identification is tight. It also facilitates implementing prior-robust Bayesian methods. We illustrate the broad applicability of the approach in an oil-market model identified using a rich set of sign, elasticity and narrative restrictions.
title Fast Posterior Sampling in Tightly Identified SVARs Using 'Soft' Sign Restrictions
topic Econometrics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.27088