This paper emphasizes the use of data-driven techniques to discern trends in commodity prices. Whereas many previous papers rely on parametric assumptions, we take as our departure point the view that such trends are inherently nonparametric, driven by complex forces of innovation and obsolescence, competition and strategic behavior, resource depletion and discovery, and supply and demand. Our reference specification is the partial linear model yt = f(t) + ztβ + ϵt where macroeconomic variables z enter parametrically, and f is nonparametric, to be discovered using cross-validation.
We analyze data on 11 commodities—3 hydrocarbons and 8 metals. For the majority of these commodities, our data-driven estimates of f bear close similarity to band pass estimates which include long term trends and super cycles. The OPEC effect is estimated to have increased oil prices by over 50% on average and coal prices by about 25%. U.S. coal mining legislation is estimated to have increased coal prices by 9% to 15%.
