How to do Vecm in Excel
Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is a type of time series model used when dealing with cointegrated series. It’s essentially a multivariate generalization of the Error Correction Model (ECM), which allows you to model both short-term dynamics and long-term relationships among several non-stationary time series variables. VECM is a staple in econometrics, particularly useful when you are dealing with non-stationary data that are cointegrated.
Implementing a VECM in Excel is quite complex and not straightforward because it involves several advanced statistical computations, which include Johansen’s cointegration test, estimation of cointegration vectors, and building the actual error correction terms. Typically, statistical software such as R, EViews, or Stata is used for such advanced econometric modeling because they have built-in functions to handle these complex calculations efficiently.
However, if you’re limited to Excel, here are the general steps you would need to take, noting that each of these steps involves quite complex calculations:
Steps to Implement VECM in Excel
- Ensure all your time series data are in the same frequency and are aligned properly. This means having all the data in columns side by side with the same time intervals.
- Use unit root tests like ADF (Augmented Dickey-Fuller) test to check if the series are non-stationary.
- If the series are non-stationary, you need to test for cointegration. The Johansen cointegration test is typically used for VECM. Implementing Johansen’s test manually requires matrix algebra and understanding of eigenvalues and eigenvectors, which is quite complex and generally not feasible in Excel without a custom script or add-in.
- If cointegration is present, estimate the long-term cointegration equation(s). This involves using the Johansen procedure to estimate the cointegration vectors and error correction terms.
- Once you have the cointegration vectors and error correction terms, specify the VECM. This involves creating lagged differenced series of the variables and the error correction term from the cointegration equation. Then, set up a system of equations that includes these differenced series and the error correction term.
- You would typically use multivariate regression techniques to estimate the VECM. This involves a lot of data manipulation and regression analysis, which can be very complex in Excel.
- Interpret the coefficients of the VECM carefully, understanding that they represent both short-term dynamics (from the differenced variables) and long-term equilibrium relationships (from the error correction terms).
Considerations
- Each of these steps involves a high level of complexity and understanding of time series econometrics. Excel is not inherently designed for such statistical analyses and thus can be quite cumbersome and prone to errors if not handled carefully.
- Excel lacks built-in functions for performing Johansen’s cointegration test and estimating VECM directly, which are typically available in specialized econometric software.
- There might be third-party add-ins available that can handle some of the complex calculations involved in VECM analysis. Researching and potentially investing in such tools could be worthwhile if you must use Excel for this purpose.
Alternative
Given the complexity involved in manually implementing VECM in Excel, most professionals opt for statistical software packages. If possible, consider using software like R (free), EViews, Stata, or Python for conducting VECM analysis. These tools have built-in functions for all steps involved in VECM and can handle the computations more efficiently and accurately. After modeling, you can always export the results to Excel for further analysis or presentation.
