Evaluating approximate point forecasting of count processes

In forecasting count processes, practitioners often ignore the discreteness of counts and compute forecasts based on Gaussian approximations instead. For both central and non-central point forecasts, and for various types of count processes, the performance of such approximate point forecasts is ana...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alwan, L.C (Author), Frahm, G. (Author), Göb, R. (Author), Homburg, A. (Author), Weiß, C.H (Author)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019
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Online Access:View Fulltext in Publisher
Description
Summary:In forecasting count processes, practitioners often ignore the discreteness of counts and compute forecasts based on Gaussian approximations instead. For both central and non-central point forecasts, and for various types of count processes, the performance of such approximate point forecasts is analyzed. The considered data-generating processes include different autoregressive schemes with varying model orders, count models with overdispersion or zero inflation, counts with a bounded range, and counts exhibiting trend or seasonality. We conclude that Gaussian forecast approximations should be avoided. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
ISBN:22251146 (ISSN)
DOI:10.3390/econometrics7030030