arXiv subjects

Simos G. Meintanis

Publications and source records attributed to Simos G. Meintanis.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Optimal Transport-Based Multivariate Goodness-of-Fit Tests

Characteristic function-based goodness-of-fit tests are suggested for multivariate distributions. The test statistics, which are straightforward to compute, are defined as two-sample criteria measuring discrepancy of empirical characteristic functions between multivariate ranks of the original observations and the ranks obtained from an artificial sample generated from the reference distribution under test. Multivariate ranks are constructed using the theory of the optimal measure transport, thus rendering the tests of a simple null hypothesis distribution-free, while bootstrap approximations are still necessary for testing composite null hypotheses. Asymptotic theory is developed and a simulation study, concentrating on comparisons with previously proposed tests of multivariate normality, demonstrates that the method performs well in finite samples. The broad applicability of the proposed methods is illustrated through an application to a real dataset.

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arXiv2025

Specification Tests for the Error--Law in Vector Multiplicative Errors Models

We suggest specification tests for the error distribution in vector multiplicative error models (vMEM). The test statistic is formulated as a weighted integrated distance between the parametric estimator of the Laplace transform of the null distribution and its empirical counterpart computed from the residuals. Asymptotic results are obtained under both the null and alternative hypotheses. If the Laplace transform of the null distribution is not available in closed form, we propose a test statistic that uses independent artificial samples generated from the distribution under test, possibly with estimated parameters. The test statistic compares the empirical Laplace transforms of the residuals and the artificial errors using a similar weighted integrated distance. Bootstrap resampling is used to approximate the critical values of the test. The finite-sample performance of the two testing procedures is compared in a Monte Carlo simulation study.

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arXiv2024

Specification tests for normal/gamma and stable/gamma stochastic frontier models based on empirical transforms

Goodness--of--fit tests for the distribution of the composed error term in a Stochastic Frontier Model (SFM) are suggested. The focus is on the case of a normal/gamma SFM and the heavy--tailed stable/gamma SFM. In the first case the moment generating function is used as tool while in the latter case the characteristic function of the error term is employed. In both cases our test statistics are formulated as weighted integrals of properly standardized data. The new normal/gamma test is consistent, and is shown to have an intrinsic relation to moment--based tests. The finite--sample behavior of resampling versions of both tests is investigated by Monte Carlo simulation, while several real--data applications are also included.

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arXiv2024

Consistent Distribution Free Affine Invariant Tests for the Validity of Independent Component Models

We propose a family of tests of the validity of the assumptions underlying independent component analysis methods. The tests are formulated as L2-type procedures based on characteristic functions and involve weights; a proper choice of these weights and the estimation method for the mixing matrix yields consistent and affine-invariant tests. Due to the complexity of the asymptotic null distribution of the resulting test statistics, implementation is based on permutational and resampling strategies. This leads to distribution-free procedures regardless of whether these procedures are performed on the estimated independent components themselves or the componentwise ranks of their components. A Monte Carlo study involving various estimation methods for the mixing matrix, various weights, and a competing test based on distance covariance is conducted under the null hypothesis as well as under alternatives. A real-data application demonstrates the practical utility and effectiveness of the method.

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arXiv2023

Testing semiparametric model-equivalence hypotheses based on the characteristic function

We propose three test criteria each of which is appropriate for testing, respectively, the equivalence hypotheses of symmetry, of homogeneity, and of independence, with multivariate data. All quantities have the common feature of involving weighted--type distances between characteristic functions and are convenient from the computational point of view if the weight function is properly chosen. The asymptotic behavior of the tests under the null hypothesis is investigated, and numerical studies are conducted in order to examine the performance of the criteria in finite samples.

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arXiv2023

Specification procedures for multivariate stable-Paretian laws for independent and for conditionally heteroskedastic data

We consider goodness-of-fit methods for multivariate symmetric and asymmetric stable Paretian random vectors in arbitrary dimension. The methods are based on the empirical characteristic function and are implemented both in the i.i.d. context as well as for innovations in GARCH models. Asymptotic properties of the proposed procedures are discussed, while the finite-sample properties are illustrated by means of an extensive Monte Carlo study. The procedures are also applied to real data from the financial markets.

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arXiv2023

Specifications tests for count time series models with covariates

We propose a goodness-of-fit test for a class of count time series models with covariates which includes the Poisson autoregressive model with covariates (PARX) as a special case. The test criteria are derived from a specific characterization for the conditional probability generating function and the test statistic is formulated as a $L_2$ weighting norm of the corresponding sample counterpart. The asymptotic properties of the proposed test statistic are provided under the null hypothesis as well as under specific alternatives. A bootstrap version of the test is explored in a Monte--Carlo study and illustrated on a real data set on road safety.

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arXiv2023

Goodness-of-fit tests for multivariate skewed distributions based on the characteristic function

We employ a general Monte Carlo method to test composite hypotheses of goodness-of-fit for several popular multivariate models that can accommodate both asymmetry and heavy tails. Specifically, we consider weighted L2-type tests based on a discrepancy measure involving the distance between empirical characteristic functions and thus avoid the need for employing corresponding population quantities which may be unknown or complicated to work with. The only requirements of our tests are that we should be able to draw samples from the distribution under test and possess a reasonable method of estimation of the unknown distributional parameters. Monte Carlo studies are conducted to investigate the performance of the test criteria in finite samples for several families of skewed distributions. Real-data examples are also included to illustrate our method.

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arXiv2022

Goodness-of-fit tests for stochastic frontier models based on the characteristic function

We consider goodness-of-fit tests for the distribution of the composed error in Stochastic Frontier Models. The proposed test statistic utilizes the characteristic function of the composed error term, and is formulated as a weighted integral of properly standardized data. The new test statistic is shown to be consistent and computationally convenient. Simulation results are presented whereby resampling versions of the new tests are compared to classical goodness-of-fit methods.

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arXiv2022

Bahadur efficiency for certain goodness--of--fit tests based on the empirical characteristic function

We study the Bahadur efficiency of several weighted L2--type goodness--of--fit tests based on the empirical characteristic function. The methods considered are for normality and exponentiality testing, and for testing goodness--of--fit to the logistic distribution. Our results are helpful in deciding which specific test a potential practitioner should apply. For the celebrated BHEP and energy tests for normality we obtain novel efficiency results, with some of them in the multivariate case, while in the case of the logistic distribution this is the first time that efficiencies are computed for any composite goodness--of--fit test.

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arXiv2021

Nonparametric tests of independence for circular data based on trigonometric moments

We introduce nonparametric tests of independence for bivariate circular data based on trigonometric moments. Our contributions lie in (i) proposing nonparametric tests that are locally and asymptotically optimal against bivariate cosine von Mises alternatives and (ii) extending these tests, via the empirical characteristic function, to obtain consistent tests against broader sets of alternatives, eventually being omnibus. We thus provide a collection of trigonometric-based tests of varying generality and known optimalities. The large-sample behaviours of the tests under the null and alternative hypotheses are obtained, while simulations show that the new tests are competitive against previous proposals. Two data applications in astronomy and forest science illustrate the usage of the tests.

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arXiv2021

Tests for circular symmetry of complex-valued random vectors

We propose tests for the null hypothesis that the law of a complex-valued random vector is circularly symmetric. The test criteria are formulated as $L^2$-type criteria based on empirical characteristic functions, and they are convenient from the computational point of view. Asymptotic as well as Monte-Carlo results are presented. Applications on real data are also reported. An R package called CircSymTest is available from the authors.

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arXiv2019

Fourier-type monitoring procedures for strict stationarity

We consider model-free monitoring procedures for strict stationarity of a given time series. The new criteria are formulated as L2-type statistics incorporating the empirical characteristic function. Asymptotic as well as Monte Carlo results are presented. The new methods are also employed in order to test for possible stationarity breaks in time-series data from the financial sector.

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arXiv2019

Tests for validity of the semiparametric heteroskedastic transformation model

There exist a number of tests for assessing the nonparametric heteroscedastic location-scale assumption. Here we consider a goodness-of-fit test for the more general hypothesis of the validity of this model under a parametric functional transformation on the response variable. Specifically we consider testing for independence between the regressors and the errors in a model where the transformed response is just a location/scale shift of the error. Our criteria use the familiar factorization property of the joint characteristic function of the covariates under independence. The difficulty is that the errors are unobserved and hence one needs to employ properly estimated residuals in their place. We study the limit distribution of the test statistics under the null hypothesis as well as under alternatives, and also suggest a resampling procedure in order to approximate the critical values of the tests. This resampling is subsequently employed in a series of Monte Carlo experiments that illustrate the finite-sample properties of the new test. We also investigate the performance of related test statistics for normality and symmetry of errors, and apply our methods on real data sets.

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arXiv2017

Characterizations of multinormality and corresponding tests of fit, including for Garch models

We provide novel characterizations of multivariate normality that incorporate both the characteristic function and the moment generating function, and we employ these results to construct a class of affine invariant, consistent and easy-to-use goodness-of-fit tests for normality. The test statistics are suitably weighted $L^2$-statistics, and we provide their asymptotic behavior both for i.i.d. observations as well as in the context of testing that the innovation distribution of a multivariate GARCH model is Gaussian. We also study the finite-sample behavior of the new tests and compare the new criteria with alternative existing tests.

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arXiv2014

Tests for Time Series of Counts Based on the Probability Generating Function

We propose testing procedures for the hypothesis that a given set of discrete observations may be formulated as a particular time series of counts with a specific conditional law. The new test statistics incorporate the empirical probability generating function computed from the observations. Special emphasis is given to the popular models of integer autoregression and Poisson autoregression. The asymptotic properties of the proposed test statistics are studied under the null hypothesis as well as under alternatives. A Monte Carlo power study on bootstrap versions of the new methods is included as well as real-data examples.

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arXiv2013

Data Transformations and Goodness-of-Fit Tests for Type-II Right Censored Samples

We suggest several goodness-of-fit methods which are appropriate with Type-II right censored data. Our strategy is to transform the original observations from a censored sample into an approximately i.i.d. sample of normal variates and then perform a standard goodness-of-fit test for normality on the transformed observations. A simulation study with several well known parametric distributions under testing reveals the sampling properties of the methods. We also provide theoretical analysis of the proposed method.

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