Dummy Variables Dummy variables are very useful for capturing a variety of qualitative effects. They typically have the value 0 or 1 and so possibly a better name is "binary variable". They can be included as explanatory variables in the regression equation and the estimated coefficients and standard errors can be used in hypothesis testing. Dummy variables that measure individual attributes may be coded in the data file and these can be assigned variable names and loaded into SHAZAM with the READ command. Alternatively, it may be convenient to create the required dummy variables with SHAZAM commands. Examples Modelling structural change Capturing seasonal effects Dummy variables in models with a log-transformed dependent variable Note: When dummy variables are used as dependent variables then analysis with the probit or logit model is required. [SHAZAM Guide home] Modelling structural change Consider measuring the impact of seat belt legislation on traffic fatalities. Monthly data is available for 120 observations on traffic fatalities (D) and auto fuel consumption (C). Suppose that seat belt legislation became effective at observation 80. To estimate the impact of this legislation define a dummy variable as follows: B = 0 for observations 1 to 79 B = 1 for observations 80 to 120 The following SHAZAM commands create the dummy variable and run the regression. SAMPLE 1 120 READ (file) D C * Create the dummy variable GENR B=0 SAMPLE 80 120 GENR B=1 * SAMPLE 1 120 * List the data and check that it is set up correctly. PRINT D C B * Get the OLS estimation results OLS D C B STOP Note that the command GENR B=0 first initializes the dummy variable to all zeroes. Then the SAMPLE command is used to set the sample to the period of structural change and the dummy variable is then set to 1 for this period. The dummy variable is now created and the OLS estimation is then run over the entire sample period of the data. In SHAZAM there is often more than one way of doing things. An equivalent way of creating the dummy variable is illustrated in the next list of commands. SAMPLE 1 120 READ (file) D C GENR B=DUM(TIME(0)-79) OLS D C B STOP The dummy variable is created in a single command by using the DUM and TIME functions on the GENR command. The TIME(0) function creates an observation index with values 1,2,3,. . . . The DUM function is set to 1 when the argument is > 0 (that is, positive values) and is set to 0 otherwise. In this example the argument of the DUM function is TIME(0)-79. This will have positive values for observation numbers that are greater than or equal to 80. [Back to Top] [SHAZAM Guide home]