Abstract
Hoffmann-Jorgensen (1992) presents a fairly general framework for considering consistency and asymptotic normality of “M-estimates.” The most celebrated such estimate is the famous maximum likelihood estimate (MLE), about which there has been considerable controversy due to the fact that it may not even be consistent [see Le Cam (1990)]. Hoffmann-Jorgensen’s theory tries to unify the discussion of consistency and inconsistency, but does not extend the domain of the MLE’s consistency. The current paper was motivated by first trying to understand why the MLE may be inconsistent and then considering alternatives that might rectify the inconsistency.
Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-92-04333
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Shao, Y., Hahn, M.G. (1994). Maximum Spacing Estimates: A Generalization and Improvement on Maximum Likelihood Estimates I. In: Hoffmann-Jørgensen, J., Kuelbs, J., Marcus, M.B. (eds) Probability in Banach Spaces, 9. Progress in Probability, vol 35. Birkhäuser, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0253-0_28
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