Zero-modified Count Time Series with Markovian Intensities

Abstract: This paper proposes a method for analyzing count time series with inflation or deflation of zeros. In particular, zero-modified Poisson and zero-modified negative binomial series with intensities generated by non-negative Markov sequences are studied in detail. Parameters of the model are estimated by the method of estimating equations which is facilitated by expressing the model in a generalized state space form. The latent intensities required for estimation are extracted using generalized Kalman filter. The applications of proposed model and its estimation methods are illustrated using simulated and real data sets.