Convergence Analysis of MCMC Algorithms for Bayesian Multivariate Linear Regression with Non‐Gaussian Errors

When Gaussian errors are inappropriate in a multivariate linear regression setting, it is often assumed that the errors are iid from a distribution that is a scale mixture of multivariate normals. Combining this robust regression model with a default prior on the unknown parameters results in a highly intractable posterior density. Fortunately, there is a simple data augmentation (DA) algorithm and a corresponding Haar PX‐DA algorithm that can be used to explore this posterior. This paper provides conditions (on the mixing density) for geometric ergodicity of the Markov chains underlying these Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms. Letting d denote the dimension of the response, the main result shows that the DA and Haar PX‐DA Markov chains are geometrically ergodic whenever the mixing density is generalized inverse Gaussian, log‐normal, inverted Gamma (with shape parameter larger than d /2) or Fréchet (with shape parameter larger than d /2). The results also apply to certain subsets of the Gamma, F and Weibull families.     

Objective Bayesian Analysis of Skew‐t Distributions

Abstract. We study the Jeffreys prior and its properties for the shape parameter of univariate skew‐t distributions with linear and nonlinear Student's t skewing functions. In both cases, we show that the resulting priors for the shape parameter are symmetric around zero and proper. Moreover, we propose a Student's t approximation of the Jeffreys prior that makes an objective Bayesian analysis easy to perform. We carry out a Monte Carlo simulation study that demonstrates an overall better behaviour of the maximum a posteriori estimator compared with the maximum likelihood estimator. We also compare the frequentist coverage of the credible intervals based on the Jeffreys prior and its approximation and show that they are similar. We further discuss location‐scale models under scale mixtures of skew‐normal distributions and show some conditions for the existence of the posterior distribution and its moments. Finally, we present three numerical examples to illustrate the implications of our results on inference for skew‐t distributions.     

Identifiability of two‐component skew normal mixtures with one known component

We give sufficient identifiability conditions for estimating mixing proportions in two‐component mixtures of skew normal distributions with one known component. We consider the univariate case and two multivariate extensions: a multivariate skew normal distribution (MSN) and the canonical fundamental skew normal distribution (CFUSN). The characteristic function of the CFUSN distribution is additionally derived.     

Sample Path Asymmetries in Non‐Gaussian Random Processes

We tackle an important although rarely addressed question of accounting for a variety of asymmetries frequently observed in stochastic temporal/spatial records. First, we review some measures intending to capture such asymmetries that have been introduced on various occasions in the past and then propose a family of measures that is motivated by Rice's formula for crossing level distributions of the slope. We utilize those asymmetry measures to demonstrate how a class of second‐order models built on the skewed Laplace distributions can account for sample path asymmetries. It is shown that these models are capable of mimicking not only distributional skewness but also more complex geometrical asymmetries in the sample path such as tilting, front‐back slope asymmetry and time irreversibility. Simple moment‐based estimation techniques are briefly discussed to allow direct application to modelling and fitting actual records.     

The Skew‐normal Distribution and Related Multivariate Families*

Abstract. This paper provides an introductory overview of a portion of distribution theory which is currently under intense development. The starting point of this topic has been the so‐called skew‐normal distribution, but the connected area is becoming increasingly broad, and its branches include now many extensions, such as the skew‐elliptical families, and some forms of semi‐parametric formulations, extending the relevance of the field much beyond the original theme of ‘skewness’. The final part of the paper illustrates connections with various areas of application, including selective sampling, models for compositional data, robust methods, some problems in econometrics, non‐linear time series, especially in connection with financial data, and more.     

A Non‐Parametric Estimator of the Spectral Density of a Continuous‐Time Gaussian Process Observed at Random Times

Abstract. In numerous applications data are observed at random times and an estimated graph of the spectral density may be relevant for characterizing and explaining phenomena. By using a wavelet analysis, one derives a non‐parametric estimator of the spectral density of a Gaussian process with stationary increments (or a stationary Gaussian process) from the observation of one path at random discrete times. For every positive frequency, this estimator is proved to satisfy a central limit theorem with a convergence rate depending on the roughness of the process and the moment of random durations between successive observations. In the case of stationary Gaussian processes, one can compare this estimator with estimators based on the empirical periodogram. Both estimators reach the same optimal rate of convergence, but the estimator based on wavelet analysis converges for a different class of random times. Simulation examples and an application to biological data are also provided.     

Likelihood Ratio Tests for High‐Dimensional Normal Distributions

In their recent work, Jiang and Yang studied six classical Likelihood Ratio Test statistics under high‐dimensional setting. Assuming that a random sample of size n is observed from a p‐dimensional normal population, they derive the central limit theorems (CLTs) when p and n are proportional to each other, which are different from the classical chi‐square limits as n goes to infinity, while p remains fixed. In this paper, by developing a new tool, we prove that the mentioned six CLTs hold in a more applicable setting: p goes to infinity, and p can be very close to n. This is an almost sufficient and necessary condition for the CLTs. Simulations of histograms, comparisons on sizes and powers with those in the classical chi‐square approximations and discussions are presented afterwards.