Robust and consistent estimation of generators in credit risk

DOI10.1080/14697688.2017.1383627zbMATH Open1400.91635arXiv1702.08867OpenAlexW2591990536MaRDI QIDQ4554476FDOQ4554476

Authors:

Publication date: 14 November 2018

Published in: Quantitative Finance (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Bond rating Transition Probability Matrices (TPMs) are built over a one-year time-frame and for many practical purposes, like the assessment of risk in portfolios or the computation of banking Capital Requirements (e.g. the new IFRS 9 regulation), one needs to compute the TPM and probabilities of default over a smaller time interval. In the context of continuous time Markov chains (CTMC) several deterministic and statistical algorithms have been proposed to estimate the generator matrix. We focus on the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm by Bladt and Sorensen (2005) for a CTMC with an absorbing state for such estimation. This work's contribution is threefold. Firstly, we provide directly computable closed-form expressions for quantities appearing in the EM algorithm and associated information matrix, allowing to easily approximate confidence intervals. Previously, these quantities had to be estimated numerically and considerable computational speedups have been gained. Secondly, we prove convergence to a single set of parameters under very weak conditions (for the TPM problem). Finally, we provide a numerical benchmark of our results against other known algorithms, in particular, on several problems related to credit risk. The EM algorithm we propose, padded with the new formulas (and error criteria), outperforms other known algorithms in several metrics, in particular, with much less overestimation of probabilities of default in higher ratings than other statistical algorithms.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1702.08867

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zbMATH Keywords

Markov chain Monte CarloEM algorithmlikelihood inferencecredit risktransition probability matrices

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Credit risk (91G40)

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Cited In (12)

• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Estimating rating transition probabilities with missing data
• Predicting forward default probabilities of firms: a discrete-time forward hazard model with firm-specific frailty
• An extended likelihood framework for modelling discretely observed credit rating transitions
• Bank-sourced credit transition matrices: estimation and characteristics
• Capturing model risk and rating momentum in the estimation of probabilities of default and credit rating migrations
• On the estimation of partially observed continuous-time Markov chains
• Predicting credit ratings and transition probabilities: a simple cumulative link model with firm-specific frailty
• Evolutionary optimization of transition probability matrices for credit decision-making
• Statistical inference for Markov chains with applications to credit risk
• The robustness of simulation-based Markovian transition probabilities for ultra-small samples of non-performing credit
• The new robust conic GPLM method with an application to finance: prediction of credit default

Uses Software

• ctmcd

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