This paper investigates asymmetric increasing trends in dependence in major international equity markets. To this end, we develop a multiple-regime smooth-transition copula GARCH model and address several important questions, including the number of regimes and the existence of increasing asymmetric trends in dependence. Our results suggest that two or three regimes are sufficient for describing the dependence trends in international equity markets over the last 35years with significant asymmetric increases. In addition, the implied time-series of three dependence measures show a wide variety of dynamics, demonstrating the usefulness of our framework to describe asymmetric increasing dependence trends. Finally, we evaluate the economic significance of our empirical finding based on the 99% Value at Risk and expected shortfall. Our result indicates that both risk measures have increased approximately 20% over the last 35years in major equity markets.

This paper investigates the dynamics of international government bond market integration in six of the G7 economies over two decades leading up to the global crisis. It examines whether such integration had been significant; the extent to which integration at the short and long end of the yield curve differed; the nature of such integration; and the extent of the decoupling of the long rates from short rates. These issues are investigated using the rigorous smooth-transition copula-GARCH model framework. The results show that integration at the long end of the yield curve had been increasing, had become pronounced, and was significantly greater than at the short end. Decoupling between the short and long end of the yield curve was notable, with important implications for the efficacy of monetary policy in the period before the crisis.