Estimates for the Distributions of the Sums of Subexponential Random Variables

Let be a random walk with independent identically distributed increments . We study the ratios of the probabilities P(S_n>x) / P(₁ > x) for all n and x. For some subclasses of subexponential distributions we find upper estimates uniform in x for the ratios which improve the available estimates for the whole class of subexponential distributions. We give some conditions sufficient for the asymptotic equivalence P(S > x) E P(₁ > x) as x . Here is a positive integer-valued random variable independent of . The estimates obtained are also used to find the asymptotics of the tail distribution of the maximum of a random walk modulated by a regenerative process.