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		| Yasuhiko  Nakamura | 
	
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		| ''On Forecasting Recessions via Neural Nets'' | 
	
		| ( 2008, Vol. 3 No.13 ) | 
	
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		| In this research, we employ artificial neural networks in conjunction with selected economic and financial variables to forecast recessions in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, and USA. We model the relationship between selected economic and financial (indicator) variables and recessions 1-10 periods in future out-of-sample recursively.
The out-of-sample forecasts from neural network models show that among the 10 models constructed from 7 indicator variables and their combinations that we investigate, the stock price index (index) and spread between bank rates and risk free rates (BRTB) are most likely candidate variables for possible forecasts of recessions 1-10 periods ahead for most countries. | 
	
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		| Keywords: business cycles  neural network  out-of-sample forecasts  recession  real GDP | 
	
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		| | Manuscript Received : Mar 03 2008 |  | Manuscript Accepted : Mar 04 2008 | 
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