5. Conclusions and future research
This paper develops and empirically validates a zeroadjusted gamma (ZAGA) model with a semi-parametric formulation for estimating loss given default amounts in a residential mortgage loan portfolio. The model includes log-additive components for the mean and dispersion of loss amounts given that a loss occurs, as well as a logisticadditive component for the probability of a zero loss. These model components are estimated independently, and can be fitted with either the same set of covariates or different selections. The relationship between the response variable and the covariates can be modelled either parametrically or non-parametrically. In order to estimate LGD, we then take the predicted loss amount values from the model and divide them by the exposure or loan balance at the observation time. In that sense, we estimate LGD through a direct estimate of the loss amount.