Time-series models provided an important and relatively
simple benchmark for the evaluation of the forecasting accuracy of econometric models,
and further highlighted the significance of dynamic specification in the construction of
time-series econometric models. Initially univariate time-series models were viewed as
mechanical ‘black box’ models with little or no basis in economic theory. Their use was
seen primarily to be in short-term forecasting. The potential value of modern time-series
methods in econometric research was, however, underlined in the work of Cooper (1972)
and Nelson (1972) who demonstrated the good forecasting performance of univariate
Box-Jenkins models relative to that of large econometric models. These results raised an
important question mark over the adequacy of large econometric models for forecasting as
well as for policy analysis. It was argued that a properly specified structural econometric
model should, at least in theory, yield more accurate forecasts than a univariate timeseries
model. Theoretical justification for this view was provided by Zellner and Palm
(1974), followed by Trivedi (1975), Prothero and Wallis (1976), Wallis (1977) and others.