Compound Poisson Approximation

Compound Poisson Approximation

Compound Poisson approximation appears naturally in situations where one deals with a large number of rare events. It has important applications in insurance, extreme value theory, reliability theory, mathematical biology, and more. Compound Poisson Approximation synthesizes the most important recent research in the field in a single volume. With an extensive list of references, open problems, and exercises, it will become the standard reference book on the topic. Features • Provides a comprehensive overview of this rapidly expanding field • Synthesizes the most important research results of recent years • Presents an array of special topics • Provides the reader with a set of tools needed for research and education The book is of interest to researchers and postgraduate students from probability, statistics, and mathematics.

Compound Poisson Approximation

An Introduction to Stein's Method

A common theme in probability theory is the approximation of complicated probability distributions by simpler ones, the central limit theorem being a classical example. Stein's method is a tool which makes this possible in a wide variety of situations. Traditional approaches, for example using Fourier analysis, become awkward to carry through in situations in which dependence plays an important part, whereas Stein's method can often still be applied to great effect. In addition, the method delivers estimates for the error in the approximation, and not just a proof of convergence. Nor is there in principle any restriction on the distribution to be approximated; it can equally well be normal, or Poisson, or that of the whole path of a random process, though the techniques have so far been worked out in much more detail for the classical approximation theorems.This volume of lecture notes provides a detailed introduction to the theory and application of Stein's method, in a form suitable for graduate students who want to acquaint themselves with the method. It includes chapters treating normal, Poisson and compound Poisson approximation, approximation by Poisson processes, and approximation by an arbitrary distribution, written by experts in the different fields. The lectures take the reader from the very basics of Stein's method to the limits of current knowledge.