# Question about estimation **URL:** \ **Category:** Estimation\ **Created:** [18 June 2023 08:53 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614 "2023-06-18T08:53:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [18 June 2023 08:53 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/1 "2023-06-18T08:53:52Z")
I have a question about estimation. How is the file with quarterly panel data constructed? I use excel file with five columns for five variables, as well as two columns for country and quarter, but I get error message. error: findobj: properties and options must be strings [Data.xls](https://forum.dynare.org/uploads/short-url/gNmK3CI2OaEMxP0UmJUBJMVod4n.xls) (79.5 KB) ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [18 June 2023 12:53 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/2 "2023-06-18T12:53:48Z")
What exactly are you trying to do? ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [18 June 2023 14:35 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/3 "2023-06-18T14:35:15Z")
I’m trying to do an estimation based on panel data from real world, using a type of Metropolis-Hastings algorythm - Random Walk Metropolis. [Model.mod](https://forum.dynare.org/uploads/short-url/c2amHBaxn23upMDttpi21kexTAD.mod) (2.6 KB) ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [20 June 2023 12:24 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/4 "2023-06-20T12:24:23Z")
But how do you want to incorporate the panel structure into DSGE estimation? ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [20 June 2023 13:22 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/5 "2023-06-20T13:22:38Z")
I’m not sure. I linearize the non-linear system of equations and then solve the system using Blanchard Kahn method for system reduction. Finally, I want to do an estimation. First, I set priors, second, to estimate model parameters, I use likelihood function “Kalman filter” and finally, to obtain a posterior distribution, I use Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations (Metropolis-Hastings algorythm). ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [20 June 2023 14:16 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/6 "2023-06-20T14:16:17Z")
What I mean is: what makes it a panel? Do you simply want to pool all observations and treat them as one unit? ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [20 June 2023 14:30 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/7 "2023-06-20T14:30:19Z")
Oh, I want to treat observations as three units, i.e. countries Slovenia, Austria and Italy. ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [20 June 2023 17:45 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/8 "2023-06-20T17:45:21Z")
But how is estimation of a DSGE model with a panel data structure supposed to work? ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [20 June 2023 18:53 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/9 "2023-06-20T18:53:07Z")
I don’t have any experience with estimation of DSGE models. I’m trying to replicate the structural parameter stability tests, as conducted by Mr Oke Röhe (a comparison of parameter instability between countries). If panel data estimation doesn’t work, I could pool observations together I guess, and then do the instability tests for each country separatly? ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [20 June 2023 19:20 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/10 "2023-06-20T19:20:12Z")
What exactly is the reference? ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [21 June 2023 13:28 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/11 "2023-06-21T13:28:09Z")
I am attaching short version and here is full PhD thesis: [https://d-nb.info/1026165547/34](https://d-nb.info/1026165547/34) (around page 62/262) [Jerger Roehe 2011.pdf](https://forum.dynare.org/uploads/short-url/xRSh7tjiCQi6fcUdXS1SwNvEW2A.pdf) (261.6 KB) ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [21 June 2023 13:57 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/12 "2023-06-21T13:57:26Z")
But that paper estimates the model for one country at a time. ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [21 June 2023 14:16 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/13 "2023-06-21T14:16:59Z")
Okay, thank you, so how do I construct Excel file for one country-estimation? Using file in attachment, I still get error message: error: findobj: properties and options must be strings [Data.xls](https://forum.dynare.org/uploads/short-url/xTNAR1IZUuOg5vzjXLfm4CXNUHs.xls) (55.5 KB) [Model.mod](https://forum.dynare.org/uploads/short-url/jpjlsOYdoNPe6yiO3dYhQmSXvl9.mod) (2.5 KB) ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [21 June 2023 14:58 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/14 "2023-06-21T14:58:01Z")
What is the full error message? I am getting > Estimation: the ‘estimated\_params’ block is mandatory (unless you are running a smoother) ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [21 June 2023 15:18 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/15 "2023-06-21T15:18:15Z")
I obtain a table of “Approximated coefficients of correlation” and charts as output, followed by just this line: `error: findobj: properties and options must be strings` I’m running Dynare version 4.6.1 on Octave version 5.2.0. I attached print screen. ![Error](https://forum.dynare.org/uploads/default/original/3X/b/d/bd3649f1242191975536262785062e278bf3435d.png) ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [21 June 2023 15:37 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/16 "2023-06-21T15:37:27Z")
That looks like an Octave issue. Can you try Dynare 5.4 with Octave 8.1? ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [21 June 2023 20:53 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/17 "2023-06-21T20:53:24Z")
I tried, now I obtain yet another error: error: set: invalid handle (= 1) error: called from print at line 492 column 8 dyn\_saveas at line 42 column 5 stoch\_simul at line 353 column 25 driver at line 375 column 27 dynare at line 278 column 5 ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [21 June 2023 23:03 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/18 "2023-06-21T23:03:40Z")
Did you close a figure that was popping up? ---
**Author:** ![redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/redbanana/32/12120_2.png) [@redbanana](https://forum.dynare.org/u/redbanana)\ **Post date:** [22 June 2023 07:42 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/19 "2023-06-22T07:42:27Z")
Yes, otherwise everything freezes… ---
**Author:** ![jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/user_avatar/forum.dynare.org/jpfeifer/32/5044_2.png) [@jpfeifer](https://forum.dynare.org/u/jpfeifer)\ **Post date:** [22 June 2023 14:02 UTC](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614/20 "2023-06-22T14:02:52Z")
So that explains the error message. How long did you wait to judge that everything freezes? [Next page](https://forum.dynare.org/t/question-about-estimation/22614.md?page=2)