Using support vector machines for classification problems has the advantage that the curse of dimensionality is circumvented. However, it has been shown that even here a reduction of the dimension of the input space leads to better results. For this purpose, we propose two information criteria...

Application of classical model selection methods such as Akaike's information criterion AIC becomes problematic when observations are missing. In this paper we propose some variations on the AIC, which are applicable to missing covariate problems. The method is directly based on the EM algorithm...

We propose two test statistics for use in inverse regression problems Y = Kcedil; + , where K is a given matrix or operator which cannot be continuously inverted. Thus, only noisy, indirect observations Y for the function cedil; are available. The tests are designed for hypotheses of the form H0...

Estimation of finite population totals in the presence of auxiliary information is considered. A class of estimators based on penalized spline regression is proposed. These estimators are weighted linear combinations of sample observations, with weights calibrated to known control totals....

In biostatistical practice, it is common to use information criteria as a guide for model selection. We propose new versions of the Focussed Information Criterion (FIC) for variable selection in logistic regression. The FIC gives, depending on the quantity to be estimated, possibly different...

We propose a new small area estimation approach that combines small area random effects with a smooth, nonparametrically specified trend. By using penalized splines as the representation for the nonparametric trend, it is possible to express the small area estimation problem as a mixed effect...

Recently, Hjort and Claeskens (2003) developed an asymptotic theory for model selection, model averaging and post-model selection/averaging inference using likelihood methods in parametric models, along with associated confidence statements. In this paper, we consider a semiparametric version of...

The focused information criterion for model selection is constructed to select the model that best estimates a particular quantity of interest, the focus, in terms of mean squared error. We extend this focused selection process to the high-dimensional regression setting with potentially a larger...

A data set from a Belgian telematics product aimed at young drivers is used to identify how car insurance premiums can be designed based on the telematics data collected by a black box installed in the vehicle. In traditional pricing models for car insurance, the premium depends on self-reported...

Multivariate mixtures of Erlang distributions form a versatile, yet analytically tractable, class of distributions making them suitable for multivariate density estimation. We present a flexible and effective fitting procedure for multivariate mixtures of Erlangs, which iteratively uses the EM...