# find the autocovariance function of the process $Y_t$

Consider the processes $$X_t = \phi X_{t-1} + v_t$$ and $$Y_t = \phi Y_{t-1} + X_t + e_t$$, in which $$|\phi| < 1$$ and $$v_1$$ and $$e_t$$ are non-correlated random errors with zero mean and variances equal to $$\sigma^2$$. Based on these informations, find the autocovariance function of the process $$Y_t$$.

I already know that if $$|\phi| < 1$$ than $$Y_t$$ should follow a stationary process and it’s autocovariance is:

$$$$E[Y_{t+h}Y_t] - \mu^2$$$$

but I do not know how to go further

Note that all the processes have zero mean, i.e. $$E[Y_t]=E[X_t]=E[v_t]=E[\epsilon_t]=0$$.

Let $$h>0$$: \begin{align}E[Y_{t+h}Y_t]&=E[(\phi Y_{t+h-1}+X_{t+h}+\epsilon_{t+h})Y_t]=\phi E[Y_{t+h-1}Y_t]+E[X_{t+h}Y_t]+E[\epsilon_{t+h}Y_t]\\&=\phi r_y(h-1)+\phi^h r_{xy}(0)+E[\epsilon_{t+h}]E[Y_t]=\phi r_y(h-1)+\phi^h r_{xy}(0)\end{align}

Note that: $$r_{xy}(h)=E[X_{t+h}Y_t]=E[\phi^hX_tY_t+(\sum_{j=0}^{h-1} v_{t+h-j}\phi^j)Y_t]=\phi^h r_{xy}(0)$$

For $$h=0$$: \begin{align}r_y(0)&=E[Y_t^2]=E[(\phi Y_{t-1}+X_t+\epsilon_t)^2]\\&=\phi ^2r_y(0)+E[X_t^2]+E[\epsilon_t^2]+2\phi \underbrace{E[Y_{t-1}X_t]}_{r_{xy}(1)}+2E[X_t\epsilon_t]+2E[Y_{t-1}\epsilon_t]\\&=\phi^2r_y(0)+r_x(0)+r_e(0)+2\phi^2 r_{xy}(0)\rightarrow r_y(0)=\frac{r_x(0)+\sigma^2+2\phi^2 r_{xy}(0)}{1-\phi^2}\end{align}

Similarly, we can find that $$r_x(0)=\frac{\sigma^2}{1-\phi^2}, \ \ r_x(h)=\phi r_x(h-1)$$

It just remains to find $$r_{xy}(0)$$: \begin{align}r_{xy}(0)&=E[X_tY_t]=[(\phi X_{t-1}+v_t)(\phi Y_{t-1}+X_t+\epsilon_t)]\\&=\phi^2E[X_{t-1}Y_{t-1}]+\phi r_x(1)+E[X_tv_t]\\&=\phi^2r_{xy}(0)+\phi r_x(1)+\sigma^2\end{align}

• Why did you say that $E[X_{t+h}Y_t] = E[X_{t+h}][Y_t]$ and $E[\epsilon_{t+h} Y_t] = E[\epsilon_{t+h}] E[Y_t]$? – Tullio Oct 14 '19 at 20:39
• $\epsilon_{t+h}$ doesn't depend on $\epsilon_t$, but $X_{t+h}$ has a separate recursion, therefore $E[X_{t+h}Y_t]\neq E[X_{t+h}]E[Y_t]$, which was a mistake; now corrected. it was a fast deploy, and I'll review the algebra again. The solution implies joint stationarity by the way. – gunes Oct 15 '19 at 11:01
• why $\phi^h r_{xy}(0) = 0$? – Tullio Oct 15 '19 at 11:25
• It's not. Where do you see that? – gunes Oct 15 '19 at 11:30
• For $\phi r_y(h-1)+\phi^h r_{xy}(0)+E[\epsilon_{t+h}]E[Y_t]=\phi r_y(h-1)$ then $\phi^h r_{xy}(0)$ must be zero. – Tullio Oct 15 '19 at 11:55