Skip to main content

Maximum Spacing Estimates: A Generalization and Improvement on Maximum Likelihood Estimates I

  • Conference paper
Probability in Banach Spaces, 9

Part of the book series: Progress in Probability ((PRPR,volume 35))

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

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bahadur, R. R. (1958). Examples of inconsistency of maximum likelihood estimates. Sankhya 20, 207–210.

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Bahadur, R. R. (1967). Rates of convergence of estimates and test statistics. Ann. Math. Statist 38, 303–324.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, R. C. H. and Amin, N. A. K. (1979). Maximum product of spacings estimation with application to the lognormal distribution. Math Report 79-1, Cardiff: University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, R. C H. and Amin. N. A. K. (1983). Estimating Parameters in Continuous Univariate Distributions with a Shifted Origin. J. R. Statist Soc. B 45, 394–403.

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Darling, D. A. (1953). On a class of problems related to the random division of an interval. Ann. Math. Statist. 24, 239–253.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, A. W. F. (1974). The history of likelihood. Int. Stat. Rev. 42, 9–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, R. A. (1912). On an absolute criterion for fitting frequency curves. Messenger of Mathematics 41, 155–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann-Jorgensen, J. (1992). Asymptotic Likelihood Theory. Mathematisk Institut. Aarhus Univ. Various Publication Series No. 40, 5–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber, P. J.(1967). The behavior of maximum likelihood estimates under nonstandard conditions. Proc of Fifth Berkeley Symposium 1, 221–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiefer, J. and Wolfowitz, J. (1956). Consistency of the maximum likelihood estimator in the presence of infinitely many incidental parameters. Ann. Math. Statist. 27, 887–906.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Le Cam, L. (1953). On some asymptotic properties of maximum likelihood estimates and related Bayes’ estimates. Univ. of Calif. Public, in Statist. 1, 277–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Cam, L. (1990). Maximum likelihood: An introduction. Internat. Statist. Rev. 59, 153–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann, E.L.(1991). Theory of Point Estimation. Wadsworth and Brooks/ Cole, Pacific Grove, CA.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Perlman, M. D. (1972). On the strong consistency of approximate maximum likelihood estimators. Proc. of the Sixth Berkeley Symposium 1, 263–282.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Pyke, R. (1965). Spacings. J. R. Statist. Soc. B 27, 395–449.

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Ranneby, B. (1984). The maximum spacing method. An estimation method related to the maximum likelihood method. Scand. J. Statist. 11, 93–112.

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz, F.W. (1980). Towards a unified definition of maximum likelihood. Canad. J. Statist. 8, 193–203.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Shao, Y. and Hahn, M. G. (1993a). Limit theorems for the logarithm of sample spacings. Preprint.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao, Y. and Hahn, M. G. (1993b). Maximum spacing estimates: A generalization and improvement on maximum likelihood estimates II. Preprint.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wald, A. (1949). Note on the consistency of the maximum likelihood estimate. Ann. Math. Stat. 20, 595–601.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this paper

Cite this paper

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

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0253-0_28

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6682-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-0253-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics