My research focuses on empirical macroeconomic modelling and forecasting of macroeconomic variables for policy analysis. My research is driven by my experience working at an Australian policy institution and ongoing interactions with policymakers since joining academia. I am particularly interested in novel methods for estimating the dynamic causal effects of policy shocks such as monetary policy on the economy. I am also interested in techniques for extracting important information from large datasets which can improve our understanding of the main drivers of economic activity or with predicting the future direction of economic activity.
Hartigan, L. and T. Rosewall (2025). Nowcasting Quarterly GDP Growth During the COVID-19 Crisis Using a Monthly Activity Indicator. Economic Record.
Replication files: ecor-70000-supplementary-information.zip
Hartigan, L. and M. Wright (2023). Monitoring Financial Conditions and Downside Risk to Economic Activity in Australia. Economic Record, 99(325). 253--287.
Replication files: ecor12706-sup-0001-Supinfo.zip
Aslanidis, N. and L. Hartigan (2021). Is the Assumption of Constant Factor Loadings too Strong in Practice? Economic Modelling, 98, 100--108.
Hartigan, L. and J. Morley (2020). A Factor Model Analysis of the Australian Economy and the Effects of Inflation Targeting. Economic Record, 96(314), 271--293.
Replication files: ecor12539-sup-0002-Replication_Code.zip
Hartigan, L. (2019). An Intuitive Skewness-based Symmetry Test Applicable to Stationary Time Series Data. Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, 23(5), 1--17.
Replication files: Supplemental_Data_and_code
R code: symmetry_test_methods.R
Hartigan, L. (2018). Alternative HAC Covariance Matrix Estimators with Improved Finite Sample Properties. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 119(C), 55--73.
R code: lm_hac_methods.R
Hartigan, L., R. Prasad, and A. De Francesco (2010). Constructing an Investment Return Series for the UK Unlisted Infrastructure Market: Estimation and Application. Journal of Property Research, 28, 35--58.
De Francesco, A. and L. Hartigan (2009). The Impact of Changing Risk Characteristics on the AREIT Sector. Journal of Property Investment and Finance, 27, 543--562.
Trojanek, R., L. Hartigan, N. Pfeifer and M. Steurer (2025). Nowcasting Transaction-Based House Price Indices Using Web-Scraped Listings and MIDAS Regression, CAMA Working Paper Series No 45/2025.
Hartigan, L. and T. Rosewall (2024). Nowcasting Quarterly GDP Growth during the COVID-19 Crisis Using a Monthly Activity Indicator, RBA Research Discussion Paper No 2024-04.
Hartigan, L. and M. Wright (2021). Financial Conditions and Downside Risk to Economic Activity in Australia, RBA Research Discussion Paper No 2021-03.
Hartigan, L. and J. Morley (2018). A Factor Model Analysis of the Effects of Inflation Targeting on the Australian Economy. In J. Simon and M. Sutton (eds), Central Bank Frameworks: Evolution or Revolution?, 127--160. Reserve Bank of Australia.
Hartigan, L. Changes in the Factor Structure of the U.S. Economy: Permanent Breaks or Business Cycle Regimes?