Structural Models, Vector Autoregressions, Independent Component Analysis, Identification, Monetary Policy

C14,C18,C38,C51,E52

This study investigates the effects of a monetary policy shock on real output and prices, by means of a novel distribution-free nonrecursive identification scheme for structural vector autoregressions. Structural shocks are assumed to be mutually independent. The identification procedure is agnostic in Uhlig [2005]’s sense, since the response of output to a monetary shock is not restricted. Moreover, assuming mutual independence of the shocks allows us to impose no additional constraints derived from economic theory.