A Likelihood Ratio Test for Stationarity of Rating Transitions

by Rafael Weißbach of the Technische Universität Dortmund, and
Ronja Walter of the Technische Universität Dortmund

November 27, 2008

Abstract: For a time-continuous discrete-state Markov process as model for rating transitions, we study the time-stationarity by means of a likelihood ratio test. For multiple Markov process data from a multiplicative intensity model, maximum likelihood parameter estimates can be represented as martingale transform of the processes counting transitions between the rating states. As a consequence, the profile partial likelihood ratio is asymptotically x ² -distributed. An internal rating data set reveals highly significant instationarity.

JEL Classification: C33, C34, C41.

Keywords: Stationarity, Multiple Markov process, Counting process, Likelihood ratio, Panel data.

Published in: Journal of Econometrics, Vol. 155, No. 2, (April 2010), pp. 188-194.

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