This paper considers estimating the slope parameters in potentially heterogeneous panel data regressions for explaining and forecasting cross-country sovereign credit risk. We propose a novel optimal pooling averaging estimator that makes an explicit tradeoff between efficiency gains from pooling and bias due to heterogeneity. By theoretically and numerically comparing various estimators, we find that a uniformly best estimator does not exist and that our new estimator is superior in non-extreme cases. The results provide practical guidance for the best estimator depending on features of data and models.

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hdl.handle.net/1765/109088
Econometric Institute Reprint Series
Department of Econometrics

Wang, W., Zhang, X., & Paap, R. (2018). To Pool or Not to Pool: What Is a Good Strategy for Parameter Estimation and Forecasting in Panel Regressions? (No. EI-1681). Econometric Institute Reprint Series. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/109088