Abstract
The Hill's estimator (Hill, 1975) has been largely used in extreme value theory in order to estimate the tail index associated to a distribution function with a positive index. One of the criticisms to its use is the possible associated bias, dependent on the top portion of the original sample used, and also the fact that it is not location invariant. Here, a new Hill-type estimator is studied, which is location invariant. This new estimator is based on the original Hill's estimator, but is made location invariant by a random shift. Its asymptotic distributional behavior is derived, in a semiparametric setup. A comparative simulation study is also presented for several models, following an appropriate adaptive procedure.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Csörgö, P. and Mason, D.M., “Central limit theorems for sums of extreme values,” Math. Proc. Camp. Phil. Soc. 98, 547–558, (1985).
Csörgö, S. and Viharos, L., “Estimating the tail index.” In: Asymptotic Methods in Probability and Statistics, (B. Szyszowicz, ed.) Elsevier, North-Holland, Amsterdam, 883–881, (1998).
Dekkers, A.L.M., Einmahl, J.H.J., and De Haan, L., “A moment estimator for the index of an extreme-value distribution,” Ann. Statist. 17, 1833–1855, (1989).
Fraga Alves, M.I., “Hill-type estimator not affected by location.” In: Extended Abstracts of Statistical Modelling—Extreme Values and Additive Laws, Estoril/Portugal, 36–39, (1999).
Fraga Alves, M.I., “Heavy tails—How to weigh them?” In: Proceedings of the 23rd European Meeting of Statisticians, Madeira/Portugal, 147–148, (2001).
Gnedenko, B.V., “Sur la distribution limite du terme maximum d'une série aléatoire,” Ann. Math. 44, 423–453, (1943).
de Haan, L., “Slow variation and characterization of domains of attraction.” In: Statistical Extremes and Applications (J. Tiago de Oliveira, ed.), Reidel Publishing, 31–38, (1984).
de Haan, L. and Peng, L., “Comparison of tail index estimators,” Statistica Neerlandica 52, 60–70, (1995).
Haeusler, E. and Teugels, J., “On asymptotic normality of Hill's estimator for the exponent of regular variation,” Ann. Statist. 13, 743–756, (1985).
Hall, P., “On same simple estimates of an exponent of regular variation,” J. Roy. Statist. Soc. B 44, 37–42, (1982).
Hill, B.M., “A simple general approach to inference about the tail of a distribution,” Ann. Statist. 3, 1163–1174, (1975).
Pickands, J., “Statistical inference using extreme value order statistics,” Ann. Statist. 3, 119–131, (1975).
Pictet, O.V., Dacorogna, M.M., and Müller, U.A., “Hill, bootstrap and jackknife estimators for heavy tails.” In: A Practical Guide to Heavy Tails, (Adler, R. Feldman, R. and Taqqu, M.S. eds), 283–310, (1998).
Reiss, R.D. and Thomas, M. Statistical Analysis of Extreme Values, 2nd Birkhauser Verlag, Basel, (2001).
Resnick, S., “Heavy tail modeling and teletraffic data,” Ann. Statist. 25(5), 1805–1869, (1997).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fraga Alves, M. A Location Invariant Hill-Type Estimator. Extremes 4, 199–217 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015226104400
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015226104400