TSP ("Time Series Processor") is a complete language for the estimation and simulation of econometric models. Although TSP was originally and continues to be developed primarily by economists, there is nothing in its design limiting it to economic times series. Any data consisting of repeated observations of the same variable for different units may be analysed with TSP.

TSP features

  • Easy-to-use free format command and data input
  • All the standard econometric estimation methods, such as OLS, instrumental variables, LIML, nonlinear systems estimation, generalized methods of moments, FIML, maximum likelihood for qualitative dependent variable models, ARIMA, Kalman filter, ARCH, VAR, and other time series techniques (complete feature list).
  • Extensive diagnostics and testing facilities.
  • Flexible data transformation with many built-in functions and matrix algebra.
  • Offers a choice between interactive use or full programming language for econometric methods development.

Common applications of TSP

  • Applied econometrics
  • Macroeconomic research and forecasting
  • Sales forecasting
  • Financial analysis
  • Cost analysis and forecasting
  • Monte Carlo simulation
  • Estimation and simulation of economic models

Although TSP was originally and continues to be developed primarily by economists, there is nothing in its design limiting it to economic times series. Any data consisting of repeated observations of the same variable for different units may be analysed with TSP.

(5/09/14) All the Windows versions updated and installers for a few minor bugfixes and some minor new features

  • WRITE(FILE='file.csv') now writes .CSV files, with variable names in the first row. This avoids the old Excel row limit (65,536) when writing .XLS files and may also be useful for importing into Stata or a database (or to recent versions of Excel which avoid the row limitation by storing .xlsx or .xlsb)
  • READ(FILE='file.dta') now handles Stata 13 .dta files, including strL variables
  • READ(FILE='file.sas7bdat') now handles SAS .sas7bdat files with COMPRESS=CHAR and/or files created on both Windows and 64-bit unix systems (Intel and non-Intel)
  • SORT(ALL) KEY1 KEY2 ... ; multple sort keys
  • LAD(MAXIT=limit) controls the number of iterations for BRCENS estimation (default 500)
  • The standard Windows 64-bit MP TSP.EXE no longer uses separate DLL files. Everything is in the .EXE, which makes it easier to install and use

TSP/OxMetrics - Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7

This runs under 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows, in conjunction with the OxMetrics interface program. It has the best graphics  of all the versions of TSP. It also includes standalone copies of TSP (both Win32 and "extended DOS") which can be run directly from the command prompt.

TSP without OxMetrics - Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7

This does not include the OxMetrics interface, but does include everything else listed above under TSP/OxMetrics - Win32 TSP and DOS/Win TSP. Note that Win32 TSP does not produce graphics.

DOS/Win - DOS, Windows 3.x/95/98/NT/2000

This version runs under DOS and as an "extended DOS" application under all flavors of Windows (until XP) as well as OS/2. It allows on-screen editing in interactive mode - you can use arrow keys to repeat and edit commands. It also has full-screen graphics.

System Requirements: Pentium or 486 and above

  • 4mb RAM (DOS or Windows 3.x)
  • 8mb RAM (Windows 95/98)
  • 16mb RAM (Windows NT 3.5/4.0/2000/XP)

Mac OS

This version runs on most MAC OS, although a Rosetta translator add-on is needed for Snow Leopard (version 10.6). If Rosetta is not present on the user's machine, when they first run TSP they will be automatically prompted to download/install it (assuming their Mac is connected to the internet). If they upgraded their Mac to Snow Leopard from an earlier OS, it is on the system install disk as an optional install.

  • Mac TSP (app version) does not currently run on MacOS 10.7 "Lion", which requires Intel code and cannot use Rosetta
  • The CD does include a native Intel "Terminal" version of TSP which runs on 10.7 and higher
  • It may take awhile before we have a standard interface app version for 10.7. We delayed creating an Intel code regular app version for a long time, but fortunately OxMetrics is available for the Mac. So we just have to create a compatible TSP Module for OxMetrics on the Mac, and we will have an excellent app interface, like on Windows

Two versions of TSP are included on the Mac OS CD (released 7/28/2010).

  • A standard interface version, with graphics and an Open File dialog box for selecting a batch input file or running in interactive mode
  • A Terminal version, which runs from the Terminal application (under Applications/Utilities) and behaves like a standard unix shell

Unix systems

TSP 5.1 is currently shipping for any Intel system running Linux (32 bit or 64 bit).

TSP 5.0 is currently shipping on the following Unix platforms.

  • Sun Solaris 2.x, Solaris 8
  • Intel Linux (pretty much all standard 32-bit releases of Linux) 
    Partial list of known Linux versions which TSP runs on: 
    Debian 2.x, libc6/glibc, mandrake 8.2, 9.0, Red Hat 5.x, 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, Suse 8.1
  • IBM RS/6000 AIX 5.1 (64-bit and 32-bit versions are available)

All the above have gnuplot graphics.

TSP 5.0 is not available for the following systems (TSP 4.5 is available for them)

  • DEC Alpha Digital UNIX 4.0
  • HP 9000 HP-UX 10.20 and 11.0

Since system requirements for Unix can be highly idiosyncratic, please contact us if you have specific questions on whether your machine can run TSP or not.

Hard drive space required

On all platforms the TSP application (TSP.EXE on PCs) requires about 2mb of hard drive space when decompressed. TSP/OxMetrics, Win32 TSP, and the TSP help system may require up to 10mb.

Coming Soon. Please email us at [email protected] to order your license TSP

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