Using a large deviations approach, Maximum A-Posteriori Probability (MAP) and Empirical Likelihood (EL) are shown to possess, under misspecification, an exclusive property of Bayesian consistency. Under conditions of consistency, regardless of prior the MAP estimator asymptotically coincides...

The Bayesian Sanov Theorem (BST) identifies, under both correct and incorrect specification of infinite dimensional model, the points of concentration of the posterior measure. Utilizing this insight in the context of Polya urn sampling, Bayesian nonparametric consistency is established. Polya...

Empirical Likelihood (EL) and other methods that operate within the Empirical Estimating Equations (E3) approach to estimation and inference are challenged by the Empty Set Problem (ESP). ESP concerns the possibility that a model set, which is data-dependent, may be empty for some data sets. To...

In the Empirical Estimating Equations (E^3) approach to estimation and inference estimating equations are replaced by their data-dependent empirical counterparts. It is odd but with E^3 there are models where the E^3-based estimator does not exist for some data set, and does exist for others....

Methods, like Maximum Empirical Likelihood (MEL), that operate within the Empirical Estimating Equations (E3) approach to estimation and inference are challenged by the Empty Set Problem (ESP). We propose to return from E3 back to the Estimating Equations, and to use the Maximum Likelihood...

Methods, like Maximum Empirical Likelihood (MEL), that operate within the Empirical Estimating Equations (E3) approach to estimation and inference are challenged by the Empty Set Problem (ESP). We propose to return from E3 back to the Estimating Equations, and to use the Maximum Likelihood...

Criterion choice is such a hard problem in information recovery and in estimation and inference. In the case of inverse problems with noise, can probabilistic laws provide a basis for empirical estimator choice? That is the problem we investigate in this paper. Large Deviations Theory is used to...

In this paper we demonstrate, in a parametric Estimating Equations setting, that the Empirical Likelihood (EL) method is an asymptotic instance of the Bayesian non-parametric Maximum-A-Posteriori approach. The resulting probabilistic interpretation and justifcation of EL rests on Bayesian...