Regression and state space models with time varying coefficients are
treated in a thorough manner. State space models are introduced as a
means to model time varying regression coefficients. The Kalman filter
and smoother recursions are explained in an easy to understand fashion.
The main part of the book deals with testing the null hypothesis of
constant regression coefficients against the alternative that they
follow a random walk. Different exact and large sample tests are
presented and extensively compared based on Monte Carlo studies, so that
the reader is guided in the question which test to choose in a
particular situation. Moreover, different new tests are proposed which
are suitable in situations with autocorrelated or heteroskedastic
errors. Additionally, methods are developed to test for the constancy of
regression coefficients in situations where one knows already that some
coefficients follow a random walk, thereby one is enabled to find out
which of the coefficients varies over time.