Phase-Type Distributions for Sieve Estimation
用于筛估计的相位型分布
In many semiparametric models, the infinite-dimensional parameter of direct interest is a probability density, but its nonparametric estimation is usually difficult in the presence of incomplete data. To address this issue, this study promotes phase-type distributions as a method of sieve. Phase-type distributions are dense in the space of nonnegative distributions, closed under minimum, maximum, and convolution, and compatible with the accelerated failure time model. This…