| Abstract: | Several methods have been suggested to calculate robust M- and G-M -estimators of the regression parameter β and of the error scale parameter σ in a linear model. This paper shows that, for some data sets well known in robust statistics, the nonlinear systems of equations for the simultaneous estimation of β, with an M-estimate with a redescending ψ-function, and σ, with the residual median absolute deviation (MAD), have many solutions. This multiplicity is not caused by the possible lack of uniqueness, for redescending ψ-functions, of the solutions of the system defining β with known σ; rather, the simultaneous estimation of β and σ together creates the problem. A way to avoid these multiple solutions is to proceed in two steps. First take σ as the median absolute deviation of the residuals for a uniquely defined robust M-estimate such as Huber's Proposal 2 or the L1-estimate. Then solve the nonlinear system for the M-estimate with σ equal to the value obtained at the first step to get the estimate of β. Analytical conditions for the uniqueness of M and G-M-estimates are also given. |
