Inference for Local Parameters in Convexity Constrained Models

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Publication:6185569




Abstract: We consider the problem of inference for local parameters of a convex regression function f0:[0,1]omathbbR based on observations from a standard nonparametric regression model, using the convex least squares estimator (LSE) widehatfn. For x0in(0,1), the local parameters include the pointwise function value f0(x0), the pointwise derivative f0(x0), and the anti-mode (i.e., the smallest minimizer) of f0. The existing limiting distribution of the estimation error (widehatfn(x0)f0(x0),widehatfn(x0)f0(x0)) depends on the unknown second derivative f0(x0), and is therefore not directly applicable for inference. To circumvent this impasse, we show that the following locally normalized errors (LNEs) enjoy pivotal limiting behavior: Let [widehatu(x0),widehatv(x0)] be the maximal interval containing x0 where widehatfn is linear. Then, under standard conditions, �inom{ sqrt{n(widehat{v}(x_0)-widehat{u}(x_0))}(widehat{f}_n(x_0)-f_0(x_0)) }{ sqrt{n(widehat{v}(x_0)-widehat{u}(x_0))^3}(widehat{f}_n'(x_0)-f_0'(x_0))} ightsquigarrow sigma cdot �inom{mathbb{L}^{(0)}_2}{mathbb{L}^{(1)}_2}, where n is the sample size, sigma is the standard deviation of the errors, and mathbbL2(0),mathbbL2(1) are universal random variables. This asymptotically pivotal LNE theory instantly yields a simple tuning-free procedure for constructing CIs with asymptotically exact coverage and optimal length for f0(x0) and f0(x0). We also construct an asymptotically pivotal LNE for the anti-mode of f0, and its limiting distribution does not even depend on sigma. These asymptotically pivotal LNE theories are further extended to other convexity/concavity constrained models (e.g., log-concave density estimation) for which a limit distribution theory is available for problem-specific estimators.



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