Some Aspects of Application of VECM Analysis for Modeling Causal Relationships Between Spot and Futures Prices

Abstract

The article is devoted to the issue of the application of econometric concept of cointegration and error correction models (VECM) to study the relationship between futures prices and spot prices. The author attempted to identify the determinants of the use of this methodology with respect to the relationship of spot and futures prices. In case of the prices of futures contracts and their underlying instruments causal modeling is associated with the need to deal with the multiple problems resulting from the specific nature of this dependency. These problems affect both the proper preparation of the data, as well as adaptation of the methods to the nature of the investigated phenomena. The article also points out the possible interpretation of the results of the VECM analysis in the context of the theory related to spot and futures prices linkages.