On a class of bivariate mixed Sarmanov distributions

Multivariate distributions are more and more used to model the dependence encountered in many fields. However, classical multivariate distributions can be restrictive by their nature, while Sarmanov's multivariate distribution, by joining different marginals in a flexible and tractable dependence structure, often provides a valuable alternative. In this paper, we introduce some bivariate mixed Sarmanov distributions with the purpose to extend the class of bivariate Sarmanov distributions and to obtain new dependency structures. Special attention is paid to the bivariate mixed Sarmanov distribution with Poisson marginals and, in particular, to the resulting bivariate Sarmanov distributions with negative binomial and with Poisson‐inverse Gaussian marginals; these particular types of mixed distributions have possible applications in, for example modelling bivariate count data. The extension to higher dimensions is also discussed. Moreover, concerning the dependency structure, we also present some correlation formulas.     

Maximum likelihood estimation in the proportional hazards model of random censorship

The maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for the survival function S_Tunder the proportional hazards model of censorship is derived and shown to differ from the Abdushukurov-Cheng-Lin estimator when the class of allowable distributions includes all continuous and discrete distributions. The estimators are compared via an example. The MLE is calculated using a Newton-Raphson iterative procedure and implemented via a FORTRAN algorithm.     

Estimation of Seemingly Unrelated Tobit Regressions via the EM Algorithm

An expectation-maximum (EM) likelihood algorithm is used to estimate two seemingly unrelated Tobit regressions in which the dependent variables are truncated normal. An illustrative example on the determination of the life-health insurance and pension benefits is also given.     

Conditional inference in finite population sampling under a calibration model

Several estimators, including the classical and the regression estimators of finite population mean, are compared, both theoretically and empirically, under a calibration model, where the dependent variable(y), and not the independent variable(x), can be observed for all units of the finite population. It is shown asymptotically that when conditioned on x, the bias of the classical estimator may be much smaller than that of the regression estimators; whereas when conditioned on y, the regression estimator may have much smaller conditional bias than the classical estimator. Since all the y's(not x's) can be observed, it seems appropriate to make comparison under the conditional distribution of each estimator with y fixed. In this case, the regression estimator has smaller variance, smaller conditional bias, and the conditional coverage probability closer to its nominal level     

The Identification of Multiple Outliers in ARIMA Models

Abstract

There are three main problems in the existing procedures for detecting outliers in ARIMA models. The first one is the biased estimation of the initial parameter values that may strongly affect the power to detect outliers. The second problem is the confusion between level shifts and innovative outliers when the series has a level shift. The third problem is masking. We propose a procedure that keeps the powerful features of previous methods but improves the initial parameter estimate, avoids the confusion between innovative outliers and level shifts and includes joint tests for sequences of additive outliers in order to solve the masking problem. A Monte Carlo study and one example of the performance of the proposed procedure are presented.     

Nonparametric Bayes and empirical Bayes estimation of the population median,with application in finite-population sampling

ABSTRACT

Nonparametric Bayes and empirical Bayes estimators of the population median are provided under Dirichlet process priors. The finite-population sampling is used to estimate the finite-population median under Dirichlet process priors. The asymptotic properties of the estimators are obtained from a frequentist perspective.     

Partitioned cross-validation

Partitioned cross-validation is proposed as a method for overcoming the large amounts of across sample variability to which ordinary cross-validation is subject. The price for cutting down on the sample noise is that a type of bias is intriduced. A theory is presented for optimal trade-off of this variance and bias. Comparison with other bandwidth selection methods is given.     

Estimation of tail parameters under type i censoring

This paper is a continuation of previous work concerning the estimation of tail-parameters under Type II censoring (Weissman 1978). The same estimation problem is considered here, this truip under Type I censoring. A sample of size n is censored below aE a given level x₀it is assumed that che underlying distriibution .function (df)belogs to the domain of attraction of a known extreme-value distribution and that K - K(x_o) , the number of observed values, remains finite as on - ∞ . We offer here estimators, which are asymptotically maximum likelihood estimators (MLE's), for quantiles associated with the tail of F such as location and scale parameters, quantiles and F(x) itself (for x in the tail). The results are applied to two illustrative examples.     

Asian American Adolescents' Academic Achievement

Summary

This investigation examined the attitudes and behavior regarding academic achievement from the perspective of 153 Asian American adolescents who participated in an essay contest entitles “Growing Up Asian American.” Less than half the adolescents (42.5%) reported a positive attitude toward academic achievement, while over half expressed either negative attitude (13.1%) or mixed positive/negative attitude (44.4%). In contrast, an overwhelming majority (83%) of the adolescents exhibited embracing behavior toward academic achievement, while only 1.3% rejected and 15.7% showed mixed embracing/rejecting behavior. In addition, attitude and behavior were significantly correlated. All of the adolescents with positive attitudes exhibited embracing behavior. Adolescents with non-positive attitudes (negative or mixed) were more likely to show embracing behavior (70.5%) than non-embracing (rejecting or mixed) behavior (29.5%). The findings suggest significant distress among Asian American adolescents even though, behaviorally, they may be embracing academic achievement.     

Further Results on Zellner's Minimum Expected Loss and Full Information Maximum Likelihood Estimators for Undersized Samples

The article presents a consistent set of conditions that a prior pdf for the reduced-form parameters must satisfy if Zellner's MELO estimators for the structural coefficients of a linear structural econometric model are to exist in all normal cases where the available sample is undersized. Also, the conditions under which the full information maximum likelihood estimators of structural coefficients exist are given. Finally, the article reports application of MELO estimation to Klein's Model I.