Abstract: | Current stochastic dominance algorithms use step functions to approximate the cumulative distributions of the alternatives, even when the underlying random variables are known to be continuous. Since stochastic dominance tests require repeated integration of the cumulative distribution functions, a compounding of errors may result from this type of approximation. This article introduces a new stochastic dominance algorithm that approximates the cumulative distribution function by piecewise linear approximations. Comparisons between the new and old algorithms are performed for normally distributed alternatives. In about 95 percent of all cases, the two algorithms produce the same result. |