New Estimation Interface

Suggestions for a simplification of the estimation interface in Dynare and breaking very general commands with lots of options in several commands with more targeted scope.

set_time

dataset

estimated_params

Rely on options names rather than argument position in the command line. This new interface would replace estimated_params_bounds and estimated_params_init. The following option names would be necessary

Syntax examples

The following instructions given as examples are to be used within the estimated_params block.

     alpha.prior(shape=beta,mean=0.3,variance=0.1^2);

     alpha.prior(shape=beta,interval=(0.2,0.4,.9));

     theta.prior(shape=gamma,mode=4,variance=10,shift=+2);
     sigma.prior(shape=gamma,mode=-1,variance=5,shift=-2);

     alpha.subsamples(name1=1950Q3:1957Q4, name2=1958Q1:1983Q2, name3=1983Q3:2011Q2) 

     alpha.name1.prior(shape=normal,mode=0.30,stdv=.01);
     alpha.name2.prior(shape=normal,mode=0.33,stdv=.01);
     alpha.name2.prior(shape=normal,mode=0.40,stdv=.01);