Abstract
It is shown that for a random walk $\{S_n\}$ starting at the origin having generic step random variable $X$ with finite second moment and positive mean $\lambda^{-1} = EX$, the renewal function $U(y) = E {\tt\#}\{n = 0,1, \cdots: S_n \leqslant y\}$ satisfies for $y \geqslant 0$ $$|U(y) - \lambda y - \frac{1}{2}\lambda^2EX^2| \leqslant \frac{1}{2}\lambda^2EX^2 - \lambda EM \leqslant \frac{1}{2}\lambda^2EX^2_+$$ where $M = - \inf_{n\geqslant 0}S_n$. Both the upper and lower bounds are attained by simple random walk. Bounds are also given for $U(-y)(y \geqslant 0)$ and for the renewal function of a transient renewal process when $\Pr\{X \geqslant 0\} = 1 > \Pr\{0 \leqslant X < \infty\}$. The proof uses a Wiener-Hopf like identity relating $U$ to the renewal functions of the ascending and descending ladder processes to which Lorden's tight bound for the renewal process case is applied.
Citation
D. J. Daley. "Tight Bounds for the Renewal Function of a Random Walk." Ann. Probab. 8 (3) 615 - 621, June, 1980. https://doi.org/10.1214/aop/1176994732
Information