An application of the Morgenstern family with standard two‐sided power and gamma marginal distributions to the Bayes premium in the collective risk model

The Bayes premium is a quantity of interest in the actuarial collective risk model, under which certain hypotheses are assumed. The usual assumption of independence among risk profiles is very convenient from a computational point of view but is not always realistic. Recently, several authors in the field of actuarial and operational risks have examined the incorporation of some dependence in their models. In this paper, we approach this topic by using and developing a Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern (FGM) family of prior distributions with specified marginals given by standard two‐sided power and gamma distributions. An alternative Poisson–Lindley distribution is also used to model the count data as the number of claims. For the model considered, closed expressions of the main quantities of interest are obtained, which permit us to investigate the behavior of the Bayes premium under the dependence structure adopted (Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern) when the independence case is included. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonparametric tests for multiple regression under progressive censoring

For continuous observations from time-sequential studies, suitable Cramér-von Mises and Kolmogorov-Smirnov types of (nonparametric) statistics (based on linear rank statistics) for testing hypotheses on some multiple-regression models are proposed and studied. The asymptotic theory of these tests is provided for both the null and (local) alternative hypotheses situations and is based on the weak convergence of suitable rank order processes (on the D[0, 1] space) to certain functions of Brownian motions. Bahadur efficiency results are also presented. Empirical values of the percentile points of the null distributions of the proposed test statistics, obtained through simulation studies, are also provided.     

Optimizing fuzzy portfolio selection problems by parametric quadratic programming

This paper develops a robust method to describe fuzzy returns by employing parametric possibility distributions. The parametric possibility distributions are obtained by equivalent value (EV) reduction methods. For common type-2 triangular and trapezoidal fuzzy variables, their reduced fuzzy variables are studied in the current development. The parametric possibility distributions of reduced fuzzy variables are first derived, then the second moment formulas for the reduced fuzzy variables are established. Taking the second moment as a new risk measure, the reward-risk and risk-reward models are developed to optimize fuzzy portfolio selection problems. The mathematical properties of the proposed optimization models are analyzed, including the analytical representations for the second moments of linear combinations of reduced fuzzy variables as well as the convexity of second moments with respect to decision vectors. On the basis of the analytical representations for the second moments, the reward-risk and risk-reward models can be turned into their equivalent parametric quadratic convex programming problems, which can be solved by conventional solution methods or general-purpose software. Finally, some numerical experiments are performed to demonstrate the new modeling ideas and the efficiency of solution method.     

线性模型中M检验原假设分布的随机加权逼近

在线性模型中M-方法可以用于线性假设检验, 其中M检验、Wald检验和Rao的计分型检验是最常用的检验准则. 但是在计算这些检验的临界值时都涉及到未知参数的估计. 在本文中我们利用随机加权的方法来逼近这些检验的原假设分布. 结果表明在原假设和局部对立假设之下随机加权统计量的渐近分布与原检验统计量在原假设之下的渐近分布相同. 因此我们不需要对冗余参数进行估计,利用随机加权的方法就可以得到这些检验的临界值. 而且在局部对立假设之下可以实现对功效的计算. 当取不同的误差分布和不同的随机权时, 我们对本文的方法进行了蒙特卡洛模拟. 结果表明用随机加权方法来逼近原假设分布是非常精确的.     

Risk aggregation in multivariate dependent Pareto distributions

In this paper we obtain closed expressions for the probability distribution function of aggregated risks with multivariate dependent Pareto distributions. We work with the dependent multivariate Pareto type II proposed by Arnold (1983, 2015), which is widely used in insurance and risk analysis. We begin with an individual risk model, where the probability density function corresponds to a second kind beta distribution, obtaining the VaR, TVaR and several other tail risk measures. Then, we consider a collective risk model based on dependence, where several general properties are studied. We study in detail some relevant collective models with Poisson, negative binomial and logarithmic distributions as primary distributions. In the collective Pareto–Poisson model, the probability density function is a function of the Kummer confluent hypergeometric function, and the density of the Pareto–negative binomial is a function of the Gauss hypergeometric function. Using data based on one-year vehicle insurance policies taken out in 2004–2005 (Jong and Heller, 2008) we conclude that our collective dependent models outperform other collective models considered in the actuarial literature in terms of AIC and CAIC statistics.     

Asymptotic Optimality of Certain Multihypothesis Sequential Tests: Non‐i.i.d. Case

It is known that certain combinations of one‐sided sequential probability ratio tests are asymptotically optimal (relative to the expected sample size) for problems involving a finite number of possible distributions when probabilities of errors tend to zero and observations are independent and identically distributed according to one of the underlying distributions. The objective of this paper is to show that two specific constructions of sequential tests asymptotically minimize not only the expected time of observation but also any positive moment of the stopping time distribution under fairly general conditions for a finite number of simple hypotheses. This result appears to be true for general statistical models which include correlated and non‐homogeneous processes observed either in discrete or continuous time. For statistical problems with nuisance parameters, we consider invariant sequential tests and show that the same result is valid for this case. Finally, we apply general results to the solution of several particular problems such as a multi‐sample slippage problem for correlated Gaussian processes and for statistical models with nuisance parameters. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modelli stocastici nella riduzione del rischio sismico

In this paper three problems of seismic risk reduction are discussed. They pertain to three different temporal phases of intervention: the definition of design seismic coefficients (long term), the antiseismic strenghtening of existing constructions (medium term), the alarm for a possible forthcoming earthquake (short term). The characteristics of the stochastic models that can represent these seismic events are different in the three cases: the stochastic process is stationary in the first case, with memory in the second case, with memory and external information in the third case. If a renewal process is assumed in the second case, the other two processes are obtained by adding suitable hypoteses. Finally, it is examined how the stochastic hypotheses affect the evaluation of future damage.     

Stress testing network reconstruction via graphical causal model

An resilience optimal evaluation of financial portfolios implies having plausible hypotheses about the multiple interconnections between the macroeconomic variables and the risk parameters. In this article, we propose a graphical model for the reconstruction of the causal structure that links the multiple macroeconomic variables and the assessed risk parameters, it is this structure that we call stress testing network. In this model, the relationships between the macroeconomic variables and the risk parameter define a “relational graph” among their time‐series, where related time‐series are connected by an edge. Our proposal is based on the temporal causal models, but unlike, we incorporate specific conditions in the structure which correspond to intrinsic characteristics this type of networks. Using the proposed model and given the high‐dimensional nature of the problem, we used regularization methods to efficiently detect causality in the time‐series and reconstruct the underlying causal structure. In addition, we illustrate the use of model in credit risk data of a portfolio. Finally, we discuss its uses and practical benefits in stress testing.     

Corrected versions of cross-validation criteria for selecting multivariate regression and growth curve models

This paper is concerned with cross-validation (CV) criteria for choice of models, which can be regarded as approximately unbiased estimators for two types of risk functions. One is AIC type of risk or equivalently the expected Kullback-Leibler distance between the distributions of observations under a candidate model and the true model. The other is based on the expected mean squared error of prediction. In this paper we study asymptotic properties of CV criteria for selecting multivariate regression models and growth curve models under the assumption that a candidate model includes the true model. Based on the results, we propose their corrected versions which are more nearly unbiased for their risks. Through numerical experiments, some tendency of the CV criteria will be also pointed.     

Bayesian tail‐risk forecasting using realized GARCH

A realized generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (GARCH) model is developed within a Bayesian framework for the purpose of forecasting value at risk and conditional value at risk. Student‐t and skewed‐t return distributions are combined with Gaussian and student‐t distributions in the measurement equation to forecast tail risk in eight international equity index markets over a 4‐year period. Three realized measures are considered within this framework. A Bayesian estimator is developed that compares favourably, in simulations, with maximum likelihood, both in estimation and forecasting. The realized GARCH models show a marked improvement compared with ordinary GARCH for both value‐at‐risk and conditional value‐at‐risk forecasting. This improvement is consistent across a variety of data and choice of distributions. Realized GARCH models incorporating a skewed student‐t distribution for returns are favoured overall, with the choice of measurement equation error distribution and realized measure being of lesser importance. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A renewal jump-diffusion process with threshold dividend strategy

In this paper, we consider a jump-diffusion risk process with the threshold dividend strategy. Both the distributions of the inter-arrival times and the claims are assumed to be in the class of phase-type distributions. The expected discounted dividend function and the Laplace transform of the ruin time are discussed. Motivated by Asmussen [S. Asmussen, Stationary distributions for fluid flow models with or without Brownian noise, Stochastic Models 11 (1) (1995) 21–49], instead of studying the original process, we study the constructed fluid flow process and their closed-form formulas are obtained in terms of matrix expression. Finally, numerical results are provided to illustrate the computation.     

On modeling failure and repair times in stochastic models of manufacturing systems using generalized exponential distributions

Failures of machines have a significant effect on the behavior of manufacturing systems. As a result it is important to model this phenomenon. Many queueing models of manufacturing systems do incorporate the unreliability of the machines. Most models assume that the times to failure and the times to repair of each machine are exponentially distributed (or geometrically distributed in the case of discrete-time models). However, exponential distributions do not always accurately represent actual distributions encountered in real manufacturing systems. In this paper, we propose to model failure and repair time distributions bygeneralized exponential (GE) distributions (orgeneralized geometric distributions in the case of a discretetime model). The GE distribution can be used to approximate distributions with any coefficient of variation greater than one. The main contribution of the paper is to show that queueing models in which failure and repair times are represented by GE distributions can be analyzed with the same complexity as if these distributions were exponential. Indeed, we show that failures and repair times represented by GE distributions can (under certain assumptions) be equivalently represented by exponential distributions.This work was performed while the author was visiting the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.     

On maximum likelihood estimation of a Pareto mixture

In this paper we deal with maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of the parameters of a Pareto mixture. Standard MLE procedures are difficult to apply in this setup, because the distributions of the observations do not have common support. We study the properties of the estimators under different hypotheses; in particular, we show that, when all the parameters are unknown, the estimators can be found maximizing the profile likelihood function. Then we turn to the computational aspects of the problem, and develop three alternative procedures: an EM-type algorithm, a Simulated Annealing and an algorithm based on Cross-Entropy minimization. The work is motivated by an application in the operational risk measurement field: we fit a Pareto mixture to operational losses recorded by a bank in two different business lines. Under the assumption that each population follows a Pareto distribution, the appropriate model is a mixture of Pareto distributions where all the parameters have to be estimated.     

Explicit ruin formulas for models with dependence among risks

We show that a simple mixing idea allows one to establish a number of explicit formulas for ruin probabilities and related quantities in collective risk models with dependence among claim sizes and among claim inter-occurrence times. Examples include compound Poisson risk models with completely monotone marginal claim size distributions that are dependent according to Archimedean survival copulas as well as renewal risk models with dependent inter-occurrence times.     

The advantage of decomposing elaborate hypotheses on covariance matrices into conditionally independent hypotheses in building near-exact distributions for the test statistics

The aim of this paper is to show how the decomposition of elaborate hypotheses on the structure of covariance matrices into conditionally independent simpler hypotheses, by inducing the factorization of the overall test statistic into a product of several independent simpler test statistics, may be used to obtain near-exact distributions for the overall test statistics, even in situations where asymptotic distributions are not available in the literature and adequately fit ones are not easy to obtain.     

Space-Time Point-Process Models for Earthquake Occurrences

Several space-time statistical models are constructed based on both classical empirical studies of clustering and some more speculative hypotheses. Then we discuss the discrimination between models incorporating contrasting assumptions concerning the form of the space-time clusters. We also examine further practical extensions of the model to situations where the background seismicity is spatially non-homogeneous, and the clusters are non-isotropic. The goodness-of-fit of the models, as measured by AIC values, is discussed for two high quality data sets, in different tectonic regions. AIC also allows the details of the clustering structure in space to be clarified. A simulation algorithm for the models is provided, and used to confirm the numerical accuracy of the likelihood calculations. The simulated data sets show the similar spatial distributions to the real ones, but differ from them in some features of space-time clustering. These differences may provide useful indicators of directions for further study.     

Asymptotic laws for disparity statistics in product multinomial models

The paper presents asymptotic distributions of φ-disparity goodness-of-fit statistics in product multinomial models, under hypotheses and alternatives assuming sparse and nonsparse cell frequencies. The φ-disparity statistics include the power divergences of Read and Cressie (Goodness-of-fit Statistics for Discrete Multivariate Data, Springer, New York, 1988), the φ-divergences of Ciszár (Studia Sci. Math. Hungar. 2 (1967) 299) and the robust goodness of fit statistics of Lindsay (Ann. Statist. 22 (1994) 1081).     

Modelling and evaluation of time aspects in business processes

There is a need for modelling and performance evaluation techniques and tools for a fast and reliable design of workflow systems. This paper introduces a modelling methodology based on coloured stochastic Petri nets. It allows the integration of control flow, organizational, information related and timing aspects in one modelling framework. The processing delays include stochastic distributions in addition to deterministic times. Several workflows and the effects of constrained shared resources needed for different tasks can easily be described and analysed together. Control flow and organizational aspects are modelled separately in resource and workflow models. These models are automatically compiled into one model, which can then be used for qualitative analysis or performance evaluation. The proposed modelling and evaluation method is supported by the software tool TimeNET. An application example shows its use.     

Objective Bayesian model selection approach to the two way analysis of variance

An objective Bayesian procedure for testing in the two way analysis of variance is proposed. In the classical methodology the main effects of the two factors and the interaction effect are formulated as linear contrasts between means of normal populations, and hypotheses of the existence of such effects are tested. In this paper, for the first time these hypotheses have been formulated as objective Bayesian model selection problems. Our development is under homoscedasticity and heteroscedasticity, providing exact solutions in both cases. Bayes factors are the key tool to choose between the models under comparison but for the usual default prior distributions they are not well defined. To avoid this difficulty Bayes factors for intrinsic priors are proposed and they are applied in this setting to test the existence of the main effects and the interaction effect. The method has been illustrated with an example and compared with the classical method. For this example, both approaches went in the same direction although the large P value for interaction (0.79) only prevents us against to reject the null, and the posterior probability of the null (0.95) was conclusive.     

On the discounted penalty function in the renewal risk model with general interclaim times

The defective renewal equation satisfied by the Gerber-Shiu discounted penalty function in the renewal risk model with arbitrary interclaim times is analyzed. The ladder height distribution is shown to be a mixture of residual lifetime claim severity distributions, which results in an invariance property satisfied by a large class of claim amount models. The class of exponential claim size distributions is considered, and the Laplace transform of the (discounted) defective density of the surplus immediately prior to ruin is obtained. The mixed Erlang claim size class is also examined. The simplified defective renewal equation which results when the penalty function only involves the deficit is used to obtain moments of the discounted deficit.