The theory of estimating functions plays a major role in analysis of data pertaining to Biostatistics, Econometrics, Time Series Analysis, Reliability studies and other varied fields. This book discusses at length the application of the theory in interpretation of results in Survey Sampling.

Non linearity arises in statistical inference in various ways, with varying degrees of severity, as an obstacle to statistical analysis. More entrenched forms of nonlinearity often require intensive numerical methods to construct estimators, and the use of root search algorithms, or one-step estimators, is a standard method of solution. This book provides a comprehensive study of nonlinear estimating equations and artificial likelihood's for statistical inference. It provides extensive coverage and comparison of hill climbing algorithms, which when started at points of nonconcavity often have very poor convergence properties, and for additional flexibility proposes a number of modification to the standard methods for solving these algorithms. The book also extends beyond simple root search algorithms to include a discussion of the testing of roots for consistency, and the modification of available estimating functions to provide greater stability in inference. A variety of examples from practical applications are included to illustrate the problems and possibilities thus making this text ideal for the research statistician and graduate student.

This volume comprises a comprehensive collection of original papers on the subject of estimating functions. It is intended to provide statisticians with an overview of both the theory and the applications of estimating functions in biostatistics, stochastic processes, and survey sampling. From the early 1960s when the concept of optimality criterion was first formulated, together with the later work on optimal estimating functions, this subject has become both an active research area in its own right and also a cornerstone of the modern theory of statistics. Individual chapters have been written by experts in their respective fields and as a result this volume will be an invaluable reference guide to this topic as well as providing an introduction to the area for non-experts.

Generalized estimating equations have become increasingly popular in biometrical, econometrical, and psychometrical applications because they overcome the classical assumptions of statistics, i.e. independence and normality, which are too restrictive for many problems. Therefore, the main goal of this book is to give a systematic presentation of the original generalized estimating equations (GEE) and some of its further developments. Subsequently, the emphasis is put on the unification of various GEE approaches. This is done by the use of two different estimation techniques, the pseudo maximum likelihood (PML) method and the generalized method of moments (GMM). The author details the statistical foundation of the GEE approach using more general estimation techniques. The book could therefore be used as basis for a course to graduate students in statistics, biostatistics, or econometrics, and will be useful to practitioners in the same fields.

Generalized Estimating Equations, Second Edition updates the best-selling previous edition, which has been the standard text on the subject since it was published a decade ago. Combining theory and application, the text provides readers with a comprehensive discussion of GEE and related models. Numerous examples are employed throughout the text, al

Information geometry provides the mathematical sciences with a fresh framework of analysis. This book presents a comprehensive introduction to the mathematical foundation of information geometry. It provides an overview of many areas of applications, such as statistics, linear systems, information theory, quantum mechanics, and convex analysis.

About three years ago, an idea was discussed among some colleagues in the Division of Statistics at the University of California, Davis, as to the possibility of holding an international conference, focusing exclusively on nonparametric curve estimation. The fruition of this idea came about with the enthusiastic support of this project by Luc Devroye of McGill University, Canada, and Peter Robinson of the London School of Economics, UK. The response of colleagues, contacted to ascertain interest in participation in such a conference, was gratifying and made the effort involved worthwhile. Devroye and Robinson, together with this editor and George Metakides of the University of Patras, Greece and of the European Economic Communities, Brussels, formed the International Organizing Committee for a two week long Advanced Study Institute (ASI) sponsored by the Scientific Affairs Division of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The ASI was held on the Greek Island of Spetses between July 29 and August 10, 1990. Nonparametric functional estimation is a central topic in statistics, with applications in numerous substantive fields in mathematics, natural and social sciences, engineering and medicine. While there has been interest in nonparametric functional estimation for many years, this has grown of late, owing to increasing availability of large data sets and the ability to process them by means of improved computing facilities, along with the ability to display the results by means of sophisticated graphical procedures.