Distance covariance for discretized stochastic processes

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Abstract: Given an iid sequence of pairs of stochastic processes on the unit interval we construct a measure of independence for the components of the pairs. We define distance covariance and distance correlation based on approximations of the component processes at finitely many discretization points. Assuming that the mesh of the discretization converges to zero as a suitable function of the sample size, we show that the sample distance covariance and correlation converge to limits which are zero if and only if the component processes are independent. To construct a test for independence of the discretized component processes we show consistency of the bootstrap for the corresponding sample distance covariance/correlation.


For an iid sequence of continuous, bounded and measurable stochastic processes \((X_i,Y_i)\), \(i=1,2,\ldots\), on \([0,1]\), with generic element \((X,Y)\), the authors define the distance covariance \(T_\beta(X,Y)\) between \(X\) and \(Y\) by analogy with the distance covariance between vectors of data, for a parameter \(\beta\in(0,2]\). They show that \(T_\beta(X,Y)=0\) if and only if \(X\) and \(Y\) are independent. The corresponding sample distance covariance is denoted by \(T_{n,\beta}(X,Y)\). In the setting of testing for independence of stochastic processes, assume that we observe our processes \(((X_i,Y_i))_{i=1,\ldots,n}\) only at discrete time points \(t_0 < \cdots < t_p\) in \([0,1]\). This data is denoted by \(((X_i^{(p)},Y_i^{(p)}))_{i=1,\ldots,n}\). The main object of study in this paper is the sample distance covariance \(T_{n,\beta}(X^{(p)},Y^{(p)})\). The authors show that \[ n\left[T_{n,\beta}(X^{(p)},Y^{(p)})-T_{n,\beta}(X,Y)\right] \] converges in probability to zero as \(n\to\infty\) for independent \(X\) and \(Y\), provided that \(p\to\infty\) and the maximal distance between the \(t_i\) converges to zero sufficiently quickly. They also establish consistency of \(T_{n,\beta}(X^{(p)},Y^{(p)})\), as well as an asymptotic weighted \(\chi^2\) distribution for this statistic. Bootstrap procedures are also considered, and simulations are used to illustrate the main results.











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