Adaptive Random Bandwidth for Inference in CAViaR Models

This paper investigates the size performance of Wald tests for CAViaR models (Engle and Manganelli, 2004). We find that the usual estimation strategy on test statistics yields inaccuracies. Indeed, we show that existing density estimation methods cannot adapt to the time-variation in the conditional probability densities of CAViaR models. Consequently, we develop a method called adaptive random bandwidth which can approximate time-varying conditional probability densities robustly for inference testing on CAViaR models based on the asymptotic normality of the model parameter estimator. This proposed method also avoids the problem of choosing an optimal bandwidth in estimating probability densities, and can be extended to multivariate quantile regressions straightforward.