Multiscale Comparison of Nonparametric Trend Curves

Abstract: We develop new econometric methods for the comparison of nonparametric time trends. In many applications, practitioners are interested in whether the observed time series all have the same time trend. Moreover, they would often like to know which trends are different and in which time intervals they differ. We design a multiscale test to formally approach these questions. Specifically, we develop a test which allows to make rigorous confidence statements about which time trends are different and where (that is, in which time intervals) they differ. Based on our multiscale test, we further develop a clustering algorithm which allows to cluster the observed time series into groups with the same trend. We derive asymptotic theory for our test and clustering methods. The theory is complemented by a simulation study and two applications to GDP growth data and house pricing data.