Limit points of the iterative scaling procedure

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Abstract: The iterative scaling procedure (ISP) is an algorithm which computes a sequence of matrices, starting from some given matrix. The objective is to find a matrix 'proportional' to the given matrix, having given row and column sums. In many cases, for example if the initial matrix is strictly positive, the sequence is convergent. In the general case, it is known that the sequence has at most two limit points. When these are distinct, convergence can be slow. We give an efficient algorithm which finds these limit points, invoking the ISP only on instances for which the procedure is convergent.


The iterative scaling procedure (ISP) generates a sequence of matrices rescaling alternately its rows and columns to arrive at a matrix with prescribed row and column sums. If the starting matrix \(A\) is connected with nonnegative elements, ISP will converge. However, when this iterative process has two limit points, convergence is slow. This paper gives an efficient algorithm to find both limit points in such a case. The idea is to partition the sets of row and column indices. These define blocks which are then iteratively refined. This gives a decomposition of the matrix, and the iteration can be performed on subblocks. This paper appeared in a special issue of the journal and another paper in that issue discusses a similar problem (cf. [\textit{F. Pukelsheim}, ibid. 215, 269--283 (2014; Zbl 1302.65114)]).











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