Bayesian Estimation Using Expected LINEX Loss Function: A Novel Approach with Applications

Abstract

The loss function plays an important role in Bayesian analysis and decision theory. In this paper, a new Bayesian approach is introduced for parameter estimation under the asymmetric linear-exponential (LINEX) loss function. In order to provide a robust estimation and avoid making subjective choices, the proposed method assumes that the parameter of the LINEX loss function has a probability distribution. The Bayesian estimator is then obtained by taking the expectation of the common LINEX-based Bayesian estimator over the probability distribution. This alternative proposed method is applied to estimate the exponential parameter by considering three different distributions of the LINEX parameter, and the associated Bayes risks are also obtained in consequence. Extensive simulation studies are conducted in order to compare the performance of the proposed new estimators. In addition, three real data sets are analyzed to investigate the applicability of the proposed results. The results of the simulation and real data analysis show that the proposed estimation works satisfactorily and performs better than the conventional standard Bayesian approach in terms of minimum mean square error and Bayes risk.

Keywords

• Bayesian estimation
• LINEX loss function
• expected LINEX
• exponential distribution
• Bayesian risk