Article Preview
Top2. Forecasting Methods
Today, time series analysis and artificial neural network methods are frequently used in inflation forecasting. Considering the preliminary reporting in terms of time series, Box-Jenkins (ARIMA) method is used in the literature. In the time series analysis, past observations of data are interdependent. Therefore, it is possible to make future estimations with ARIMA models by using the information in the past observations. In this respect, the most basic point in working with time series models is that the series should show a static structure. If the average, variance and co-variance of a time series do not change over time, it can be said that the series exhibits a static structure. If the series is static, a suitable model is established in accordance with the Box-Jenkins method and the future predictions can be performed.
On the other hand, recently Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for nonlinear time series has also been widely used to make future estimates. In the studies conducted with ANN, it was found that the economic series presents successful results in the future estimations thanks to the advantages such as learning and generalizing information from the data presented to the network.
In Turkey, inflation targeting was started in 2002 by the implicit inflation regime. Figure 1 shows the time path graph of the actual and targeted inflation for the period of 2002-2018.
Figure 1. Time path graph of actual and targeted inflation
When Figure 1 is analyzed, it is seen that the inflation rate which had been realized until 2005 followed a path below the targeted inflation level. A similar situation occurred in 2009 and 2010. However, in the periods other than those periods, the actual inflation rate was higher than the targeted inflation rate. Thus, the difference between the actual inflation and the targeted inflation in recent years in Turkey is increasing gradually. Hence, estimating the future rates of inflation in our country has become important in terms of the targeted inflation rate.
Top3. Literature Review
In the literature, there are many studies in which future predictions of inflation were made by using the Box-Jenkins (ARIMA) models with different economic variables in different periods. Alnair and Ahiakpor (2011) in Gana, Meçik, and Karabacak (2011) in Turkey, in their studies covering the 2000-2010 period, achieved successful results in inflation forecasts by using only ARIMA models.
Işığıçok (1994), in his book “Analysis of Causality in Time Series”, found that there was a two-way causality between money supply and inflation in Turkey bu using ARIMA models in addition to Granger causality. Also, Işığıçok (1999), found in his study called the estimation of variance of inflation in Turkey by ARCH and GARCH models that inflation in Turkey had no ARCH influence depending on the Q1 data of 1982and Q2 data of 1999,and he found that the variance of inflation did not change significantly and it was random except for the fluctuation in 1994 Q2. Furthermore, Işığıçok and Parasız (1993), in their study called “the Mark-Up Pricing Policy and Inflation in Turkey” found that one of the causes of inflation in our country during the period from 1980 to 1992 was the mark-up inflation.