Bounded-leverage weights for robust regression estimators

Both the least squares estimator and M-estimators of regression coefficients are susceptible to distortion when high leverage points occur among the predictor variables in a multiple linear regression model. In this article a weighting scheme which enables one to bound the leverage values of a weighted matrix of predictor variables is proposed. Bounded-leverage weighting of the predictor variables followed by M-estimation of the regression coefficients is shown to be effective in protecting against distortion due to extreme predictor-variable values, extreme response values, or outlier-induced multieollinearites. Bounded-leverage estimators can also protect against distortion by small groups of high leverage points.