Research Discussion Paper – RDP 2014-12 A State-space Approach to Australian GDP Measurement Abstract
October 2014
Abstract
We use state-space methods to construct new estimates of Australian gross domestic product (GDP) growth from the published national accounts estimates of expenditure, income and production. Across a range of specifications, our measures are substantially less volatile than headline GDP growth. We conclude that much of the quarter-to-quarter volatility in Australian GDP growth reflects measurement error rather than true shifts in the level of economic activity.