The Annals of Statistics

Information geometry approach to parameter estimation in Markov chains

Abstract

We consider the parameter estimation of Markov chain when the unknown transition matrix belongs to an exponential family of transition matrices. Then we show that the sample mean of the generator of the exponential family is an asymptotically efficient estimator. Further, we also define a curved exponential family of transition matrices. Using a transition matrix version of the Pythagorean theorem, we give an asymptotically efficient estimator for a curved exponential family.

Article information

Source
Ann. Statist., Volume 44, Number 4 (2016), 1495-1535.

Dates
Revised: November 2015
First available in Project Euclid: 7 July 2016

https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.aos/1467894706

Digital Object Identifier
doi:10.1214/15-AOS1420

Mathematical Reviews number (MathSciNet)
MR3519931

Zentralblatt MATH identifier
1347.62182

Subjects
Primary: 62M05: Markov processes: estimation

Citation

Hayashi, Masahito; Watanabe, Shun. Information geometry approach to parameter estimation in Markov chains. Ann. Statist. 44 (2016), no. 4, 1495--1535. doi:10.1214/15-AOS1420. https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.aos/1467894706

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